/■I. 


STARS 

IN  - - ■■■ 

SAINT  DOMINIC’S  CROWN 

BEING 

LIVES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  SAINTS  AND  BLESSED 

OF  THE 

®rber  of  jfriar  preacJiero 


BY 

THOMAS  AUSTIN  DYSON  . 

PRIEST  OF  THE  SAME  ORDER 
AUTHOR  OF 

“THE  LIFE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  AQUINAS,”  “LIVES  OF  SOME  OF 
THE  SONS  OF  ST.  DOMINIC,”  AND  “THE  LIFE  OF 
ST.  PIUS  THE  FIFTH” 


NEW  YORK 

D.  & J.  SADLIER  & COMPANY 
33  Barclay  Street 
Montreal:  1669  Notre  Dajvie  Street 
1897 


c 


APPROBATIONS 


Nos  infrascripti  Revisores  Ord.  Praed.  pro  scriptis  excuden- 
dis  fidem  facimus  quod  attente  perlectum  opusculum  cujus 
titulus  “Stars  in  Saint  Dominic’s  Crown,  by  Thomas  Austin 
Dyson,  Priest  of  the  same  order,”  compilatum,  typis  mandari 
posse  censemus. 

In  quorum  fidem  his  propria  manu  subscripsimus,  Benetiae, 
die  17  Aprilis,  1890. 

Fr.  Antoninus  Rooney,  O.  P. 

Fr.  Benedictus  McGovern,  O.  P. 


Imprimatur, 

r.  ViNCENTIUS  ViNYEZ, 

Vicarius  Cong.  Calif.  O.  P. 


Imprimatur, 

Fr.  Aloysius  Spencer, 

Pr.  Prov.  S.  Joseph,  O.  P. 


Nihil  Obstat. 
Nov.  30,  1890. 


H.  A.  BRANN, 


Imprimatur, 

Michael  Augustine. 

Arch’op  Neo  Ebnracensis. 

Dec.  2,  18^. 


1 


LIVES  OF  THE  DOMINICAN 
SAINTS  AND  BLESSED. 

By  THE  SAME  AUTHOR. 


THE  LIFE  OF  THE  ANGELIC  DOCTOR,  ST. 
THOMAS  AQUINAS.  Small  octavo,  $i.oo.  D.  & 

J.  Sadlier  & Co. 

LIVES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  SONS  OF  SAINT 
DOMINIC ; containing  the  lives  of  Blessed  Jordan  of 
Saxony,  Antony  Neyrot,  James  of  Ulm,  Giles  of  Santa- 
rem,  Bertrand  of  Garrigue,  etc.,  etc.  Small  octavo, 
$1.00.  D.  & J.  Sadlier  & Co.,  New  York. 

THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  PIUS  THE  FIFTH,  etc., 

including  the  lives  of  St.  John  of  Gorcum,  Blessed  Petci 
Gonzalez,  Augustine  of  Nocera,  Francis  de  Posadas,  Benii'- 
dict  the  Eleventh,  Simon  Ballachi,  Albert  of  Bergamo, 
James  of  Bevagna,  and  Amferose  of  Sienna.  Small 
octavo,  $1.00.  D.  & J Sadlier  & Co.,  New  York. 


16868 


■'i 


' 


INDEX. 


rAGE 

January  lo.— Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe,  . 9 

January  19. — Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera,  . 31 

January  23.— Saint  Raymond  of  Pennaforte,  . . 43 

January  24. — Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli,  . , 87 

P'ebruary  9. — Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca,  . • 97 

February  12. — Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  . 107 

February  14. — Blessed  Nicolas  Palea,  . . >131 

February  18. — Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta,  . 149 

February  19. — Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  . . 163 

February  21. — Blessed  Aimo  Taparelli,  . . 181 

February  25. — Blessed  Constantius  of  Fabriano,  . 191 

March  I.— Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan,  . 205 

March  2. — Blessed  Henry  Suso,  ....  215 
March  6. — Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa,  . . . 251 

March  10. — Blessed  Peter  Geremia,  . , .267 


For  life  of  Blessed  Jordan  of  Saxony,  February  15,  see 
“ Lives  of  some  of  the  Sons  of  St.  Dominic;”  March  7,  see 
“ Life  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,”  and  for  that  of  Blessed  Am- 
brose of  Sienna,  March  22,  see  “ Life  of  St.  Pius  V.” 


BLESSED  GONZALVO  OF 
AMARANTH  E. 


BLESSED  GONZALVO  OF  AMA- 
RANTHE. 

JANUARY  lO. 

There  are  few  lives  of  the  saints  which 
read  more  pleasantly  than  that  of  Blessed 
Gonzalvo.  From  beginning  to  end  it  is  as 
beautiful  as  a poem,  interesting  as  a tale. 

Gonzalvo  Pereira  was  born  about  the  year 
1187  at  Arriconha,  a small  Portuguese  village 
near  Guimaraens  in  the  Arch-diocese  of  Braga, 
of  noble  parents.  His  youth  led  every  one  to 
foretell  his  future  holiness.  It  was  noticed  on 
returning  to  his  father’s  house  after  his  bap- 
tism that  nothing  but  a crucifix  could  appease 
his  cries.  He  looked  at  it,  stretched  forth  his 
little  hands  so  eagerly  towards  it,  that  many 
were  the  surmises  that  he  would  become  a 
very  holy  child,  and  serve  God  in  great  perfec- 
tion. These  hopes  were  perfectly  fulfilled. 

One  day  his  nurse  carried  him  to  Mass.  On 
entering  the  church  he  fixed  his  eyes  earnestly 


lo  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe. 

on  the  sacred  pictures,  and  stretched  forth  his 
arms  towards  the  Crucifix  as  if  to  embrace  it, 
and  cried  most  piteously  when  taken  out  of 
church.  A like  thing  happened  on  another 
occasion  when  he  was  crying  very  much  in  the 
church.  His  nurse  went  to  kneel  before  the 
Altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The  child  looked 
at  the  statue  a moment,  bent  its  little  head  as 
if  taking  farewell,  and  allowed  the  nurse  to 
cany  him  home  at  once  without  any  further 
crying.  The  sight  of  holy  pictures  and  images 
always  dried  his  tears.  So,  his  nurse,  not  be- 
ing able  to  calm  him  at  home,  adopted  the 
custom  of  carrying  him  to  the  church,  and 
always  with  the  same  result. 

His  parents  consecrated  him  to  the  service 
of  God,  and  kept  him  at  home  to  study,  at  first 
under  the  direction  of  a holy  priest,  and  after- 
wards confided  him  to  the  care  of  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Braga,  whose  episcopal  palace  was  a 
seminary  in  which  students  for  the  ecclesias- 
tical state  were  educated.  The  charming 
character  of  the  young  man,  his  docility  and 
innocence,  soon  attracted  the  Archbishop’s  at- 
tention, and  gained  for  the  young  student  his 
esteem  and  admiration.  His  progress  in  study 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe,  Ji 

was  as  remarkable  as  was  his  piety,  and,  in  due 
time,  he  was  ordained  priest. 

Soon  after  his  ordination,  he  was  appointed 
parish  priest  of  the  church  of  Saint  Pelagius, 
one  of  the  most  important  and  the  richest  in 
the  diocese.  Although  quite  young  when  he 
entered  on  this  charge,  he  soon  showed  all  the 
wisdom  of  a man  of  advanced  age  and  mature 
experience.  Before  taking  formal  possession 
of  his  sacred  charge  he  paid  a visit  to  a church, 
and  prostrate  before  the  Altar  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  implored  her  to  guide  and  direct  him 
in  the  pastoral  duties  laid  upon  him  ; after 
which  he  set  out  for  Saint  Pelagius  to  take 
charge  of  his  parish. 

His  life  as  parish  priest  was  most  exemplary. 
Far  from  thinking  that  active  duties  in  his 
parish  dispensed  him  from  a life  of  penance, 
he  fitted  himself  for  his  pastoral  duties  by 
prayer  and  austerity.  He  was  very  affable  to 
his  parishioners,  always  receiving  them  pa- 
tiently and  consoling  them  with  so  great  a 
charity  that  they  forgot  their  sorrows  and 
sufferings  while  speaking  to  him.  He  visited 
them  regularly  that  he  might  have  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  their  state  of  life.  He  remained 


12  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amur  ant  he. 


a long  time  with  the  sick,  animated  them  to 
patience,  and  took  great  pains  to  prepare  them 
for  death  when  he  saw  that  there  was  3 no 
chance  of  recovery.  . > : ; . 

Mindful  of  his  good  name  and  fearful  of  the 
wiles  of  the  evil  one,  he  never  allowed  any 
woman  to  enter  his  abode,  and  when  obliged 
to  converse  with  females  it  was  done  with  his 
eyes  bent  towards  the  ground,  and  in  very 
few  words.  By  these  means  he  preserved  him- 
self chaste  until  his  death.  He  fasted  and  ab- 
stained rigorously.  From  his  ordinary  food 
which  was  always  the  most  meagre,  he  re- 
trenched not  only  luxuries,  but  also  necessi- 
ties. He  gave  much  to  the  poor,  devoting  the 
revenues  of  his  benefice  to  their  relief.  His 
house  became  the  resort  of  pilgrims,  and  an 
asylum  for  the  unfortunate.  He  distributed 
alms  in  secret  to  those  who  were  ashamed  to 
go  begging  in  public. 

After  he  had  spent  many  years  of  his  life  as 
a good  parish  priest,  his  constant  meditation 
on  the  passion  of  our  Redeemer,  created  in  his 
heart  a great  desire  to  make  a pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land,  that  he  might  visit  those 
places  sanctified  by  the  presence  of  the  in- 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe,  13 

carnate  God.  For  a long  period  he  combated 
this  desire,  thinking  that  his  duties  as  a parish 
priest  required  him  to  remain  at  home;  but 
after  long  and  earnest  praying  to  God,  and 
after  much  fasting  and  penance,  he  resolved  to 
submit  the  matter  to  the  decision  of  his  Arch- 
bishop. His  Grace  allowed  him  to  carry  out 
his  desire,  but  would  not  accept  the  resigna- 
tion of  his  parish,  and  required  him  to  find 
some  zealous  priest  to  take  his  place  until  his 
return. 

Gonzalvo  had  a nephew,  a priest,  whom  he 
had  educated  and  severely  tried  in  the  way  of 
virtue.  He  lived  with  his  uncle,  and  was  re- 
markable for  his  piety.  Gonzalvo  thought  he 
saw  in  him  every  quality  of  a good  parish 
priest,  and  set  about  instructing  him  in  the 
duties  of  that  office,  before  he  confided  the 
parish  to  his  care.  When  at  length  he  in- 
stalled him,  he  solemnly  recommended  him  to 
be  full  of  zeal,  frugal  in  his  habits,  but  above 
all  things  to  be  kind  and  charitable  to  the 
poor.  He  especially  bade  him  devote  the 
greater  part  of  the  revenues  of  the  parish  to 
the  relief  of  their  necessities.  The  young 
priest  listened  to  his  advice,  and  promised  to 


14  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amarantke, 

carry  out  all  his  wishes,  even  confirming  his 
promises  by  an  oath. 

Having  his  mind  at  ease  with  regard  to  the 
parish,  Gonzalvo  clothed  himself  in  the  habit 
of  a pilgrim,  and  set  out  on  his  journey.  First 
he  went  to  Rome  to  visit  the  tomb  of  the 
Holy  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  then  to  Ven- 
ice, where  he  went  on  board  ship,  and  after  a 
prosperous  voyage  landed  at  Jaffa,  and  took 
the  road  to  Jerusalem.  He  visited  everyplace 
sanctified  by  the  presence  of  the  Incarnate 
Son  of  God  during  his  mortal  life  on  earth, 
remaining  in  each  sufficiently  long  to  satisfy 
his  tender  devotion. 

When  he  arrived  at  Mount  Calvary,  where 
Our  Divine  Lord  was  crucified,  his  heart  was 
so  inflamed  with  love  that  he  desired  to  die,  to 
make  some  return  for  the  love  which  crucified 
the  Son  of  God  for  love  of  us.  Absorbed  in 
the  contemplation  of  the  mysteries  of  Christ’s 
passion,  he  passed  whole  days  and  nights  on 
the  holy  mountain,  inflicting  penances  on  him- 
self in  humble  imitation  of  the  sufferings  of 
the  Saviour  of  the  world.  He  remained  three 
years  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  would  willingly 
have  ended  his  days  there  had  he  not  been 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe.  15 

bound  by  the  command  of  the  Archbishop  to 
return  to  his  parish  in  Portugal,  to  take  charge 
again  of  those  souls  committed  to  his  care. 
He  therefore  tore  himself  away  from  the  holy 
places  he  loved  so  much,  and  returned  to  his 
own  country  by  the  same  route  he  had 
come. 

When  he  arrived  at  Saint  Pelagius,  his 
nephew  either  did  not  or  pretended  not  to 
know  him.  His  austerities  had  changed  his 
features,  he  had  made  a long  and  weary 
journey,  was  clothed  in  ragged  garments,  and 
his  nephew  had  a very  plausible  excuse  for  his 
pretence.  He  had  forgotten  all  his  pious 
promises,  and  had  plunged  into  many  disor- 
ders. The  parochial  revenues,  which  he  had 
agreed  to  distribute  among  the  poor  he  had 
spent  in  luxurious  living ; he  had  filled  his 
stables  with  thoroughbred  horses,  and  now 
kept  a pack  of  hounds.  He  had  industriously 
circulated  a report  of  his  uncle’s  death,  and 
pretended  to  have  letters  giving  a detailed  ac- 
count of  his  last  moments,  and  on  the  strength 
of  these  letters  he  had  been  appointed  parish 
priest  by  the  Archbishop.  Feeling  secure  of  his 
position  he  had  turned  the  priest’s  house,  once 


1 6 Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe, 

the  abode  of  piety  and  holiness,  into  a resort 
for  hunters  and  gamblers. 

When  Blessed  Gonzalvo  presented  himself 
at  the  presbytery  door  he  was  rudely  turned 
away  like  a common  beggar.  He  humbly 
begged  alms  from  the  servants,  but  the  dogs 
in  the  yard  set  upon  him,  bit  him,  and  tore 
his  clothes.  He  sent  a message  to  his  nephew, 
who  went  to  the  door  and  treated  him  as  an 
impostor.  The  holy  man  could  not  restrain 
his  tears  and  cried  out,  “ Is  this  the  effect  of 
the  care  I took  of  your  education?  Is  this 
the  use  you  make  of  the  church  revenues  I 
gave  into  your  care  ? Is  this  the  charity  you 
show  to  the  poor  of  Christ  I so  earnestly 
recommended  to  you?”  His  unnatural 
nephew  became  more  furious  on  hearing 
these  reproaches,  threw  himself  on  his  uncle, 
snatched  his  pilgrim’s  staff  out  of  his  hand, 
dealt  him  several  blows  with  it,  set  his  dogs  at 
him  again,  and  left  him  to  be  torn  to  pieces. 
But  the  servants,  more  compassionate  than 
their  master,  saved  his  life  by  calling. the  dogs 
away. 

Covered  with  blood,  Gonzalvo  sought  refuge 
in  a house  near  at  hand,  where  he  dressed  his 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  AmaraniRe.  ,17 

wounds.  He  did  not  make  himself  known  to 
any  of  his  former  flock.  Many  doubtless  would 
have  recognized  him.  Fourteen  years  of  fer- 
vent meditation  in  the  scenes  of  our  Divine 
Lord’s  passion  had  taught  him  patience,  and 
he  blessed  God  for  deeming  him  worthy  of 
imitating  him  so  closely  in  suffering  and 
shame.  So  he  prayed  for  his  nephew’s  con- 
version, and  determined  to  embrace  the  life  of 
a hermit  in  order  to  imitate  the  solitude,  pen- 
ance, and  prayer  of, his  Divine  Master. 

He  soon  found  a suitable  place  at  Amaranthe, 
a wild  and  unfrequented  district  where  there 
is  now  a town  of  considerable  population. 
Here  he  built  a little  cell  and  a chapel  dedi- 
cated to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary;  occupied 
himself  in  pious  reading,  meditation,  and  man- 
ual labor.  He  passed  the  night  in  chant- 
ing the  divine  office,  and  early  in  the  morning 
celebrated  the  Holy  Mass. 

Desiring  not  to  separate  the  labor  of  the 
Apostolate  from  the  sweetness  of  contempla- 
tion he  went  among  the  people  to  instruct  the 
young  and  ignorant.  The  success  which 
crowned  his  efforts  caused  him  to  be  regarded 
as  a saint ; his  hermitage  became  a place  of 


1 8 Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe, 

pious  resort,  which  many  visited  to  secure  his 
prayers  or  to  be  instructed  in  piety  and  the 
way  of  salvation.  Alms  were  given  him  in 
such  abundance  that  he  was  able  to  bestow 
much  on  the  poor.  Yet  this  life,  holy  and 
useful  as  it  was,  did  not  wholly  satisfy  the 
longings  of  his  heart,  and  he  often  begged  God 
that  if,  after  having  renounced  the  world  and 
all  its  hollow  pleasures,  a still  more  perfect 
life  was  possible  mercifully  to  make  it  known 
to  him.  Prayer  and  fasting  were  the  principal 
means  he  employed  to  learn  God's  holy  will. 
During  the  forty  days  of  Lent  he  ate  and 
drank  nothing  but  bread  and  water.  On  the 
night  before  Palm  Sunday  he  was  praying 
very  earnestly  at  the  Altar  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  when  the  Divine  Mother  ap- 
peared to  him,  in  the  midst  of  dazzling, bright- 
ness, and  told  him  she  wished  him  to  abandon 
his  present  way  of  life,  and  enter  into  that 
religious  order  in  which  it  was  the  custom  to 
begin  the  office  by  the  Angelic  salutation — 
Ave  Maria,  gratia  plena,  “ Hail  Mary,  full  of 
grace  ; ” told  him  that  the  order  was  very  dear 
to  her,  and  under  her  especial  protection,  and 
that  he  would  end  his  days  in  it. 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe,  19 

Joyfully  he  began  to  visit  the  neighboring 
monasteries  to  find  the  Order  the  Blessed 
Virgin  desired  him  to  enter.  After  a search 
of  several  months  he  arrived  at  the  town  of 
Guimaraens.  He  was  very  tired,  for  he  had 
been  all  day  on  foot,  and  went  to  seek  an 
asylum  at  an  hospital  near  the  town  gates. 
This  hospital  was  under  the  spiritual  care  of 
some  Fathers  of  the  order  recently  instituted 
by  Saint  Dominic.  Although  it  was  not  a 
regular  Monastery  they  followed  all  the  mo- 
nastic observances  exactly  the  same  as  if  living 
in  the  strictest  community. 

Their  modest  behavior,  spirit  of  recollec- 
tion, and  their  fervent  zeal  greatly  impressed 
Blessed  Gonzalvo,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest 
impatience  that  he  waited  to  hear  them  com- 
mence the  recitation  of  the  divine  office. 
Behold ! the  first  words  they  uttered  were 
Ave  Maria  gratia  plena,  the  words  he  so 
longed  to  hear.  One  can  understand  his  joy. 
This  was  the  order  the  Queen  of  Heaven 
loved  so  much,  this  the  habit  he  was  to  wear 
until  death,  this  the  holy  rule  he  was  to  follow. 

Next  morning,  he  saw  the  Prior,  Blessed 
Peter  Gonzalez,  and  narrating  his  vision  asked 


20  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amur  ant  he. 

and  obtained  the  habit  of  the  sons  of  Mary 
and  Dominic. 

The  community  soon  learned  what  a treas- 
ure God  had  given  them  in  the  Novice-priest^ 
and  they  rejoiced  all  the  more  when  they 
were  told  how  holy  had  been  his  life,  and  what 
he  had  done  for  God.  After  he  had  taken 
his  vows,  remembering  the  good  he  had 
accomplished  at  Amaranthe,  his  superior  sent 
him,  accompanied  by  a fellow-Dominican,  to 
dwell  again  in  his  old  hermitage. 

As  soon  as  it  became  known  that  he  had 
returned  and  resumed  his  apostolic  work  of 
preaching,  a greater  crowd  than  before  flocked 
to  hear  him,  and  when  he  went  to  preach  a 
mission  many  were  not  content  unless  they 
accompanied  him.  Houses  began  to  spring  up 
all  around  the  hermitage,  and  what  had  before 
been  a desert  became  a town,  built  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  Tamage.  In  some  places  the 
river  was  exceedingly  rapid,  especially  in 
winter  when  it  was  dangerous  to  cross  it.  In 
attempting  the  passage  some  were  drowned, 
and  those  who  had  built  houses  on  the  side 
opposite  his  hermitage  were  unable  to  avail 
themselves  of  his  spiritual  services  in  winter 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amar  ant  he.  21 

time.  He  resolved  to  construct  a bridge.  It 
is  said  that  an  angel  appeared  to  him  and 
showed  him  the  place,  immediately  opposite 
his  little  chapel.  At  that  spot  the  water  was 
exceedingly  rapid,  and  every  one  said  it  was 
impossible  to  erect  piers.  He  did  not  hesitate, 
and  although  old  age  was  creeping  on  him, 
began  the  necessary  works.  As  soon  as  the 
people  saw  that  he  had  commenced,  they  be- 
came enthusiastic  about  the  project.  Some 
cut  down  timber,  others  obtained  stone,  and 
those  who  had  money  contributed  towards  the 
laborer’s  wages.  God  blessed  their  charity 
and  zeal.  In  spite  of  many  difficulties  the 
bridge  was  built.  He  himself  seemed  super- 
naturally  endowed  with  strength,  so  heavy 
were  the  stones  he  carried  on  his  shoulders. 

One  day  when  he  was  collecting  money  for 
this  object  he  encountered  a gentleman  whom 
he  tried  to  interest  in  the  good  work.  He 
met  with  a refusal  ; but  the  gentleman  finally 
referred  him  to  his  wife,  giving  him  a letter  of 
introduction,  assuring  him  that  she  would  con- 
tribute to  the  good  work.  This  was  only  a 
ruse;  in  the  letter  he  told  his  wife  to  give  as 
much  money  as  would  balance  the  weight  of 


22  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amur a^tt he. 

the  paper  on  which  he  wrote.  The  lady 
smiled  when  she  read  the  letter,  and  told 
Gonzalvo  that  it  was  only  a polite  refusal. 
Blessed  Gonzalvo,  much  astonished,  begged 
her  to  obey  her  husband’s  wishes,  and  see  how 
much  the  letter  would  weigh.  When  it  was 
placed  on  the  scales,  coin  after  coin  became 
necessary  to  balance  it,  and  thus  he  carried 
away  a considerable  amount. 

There  being  no  pure  water  at  hand  the  holy 
man,  like  a second  Moses,  struck  a rock  with 
his  staff,  and  a fountain  sprang  forth,  which 
supplied  all  the  workmen  with  an  abundance 
of  sweet  water.  The  pilgrims  who  now  go  to 
his  tomb  drink  this  water  from  devotion,  and 
miracles  have  frequently  been  granted  to  them 
in  reward  of  their  piety. 

The  supply  of  wine  having  also  failed,  Gon- 
zalvo struck  the  same  rock  on  the  other  side  ; 
it  opened  in  an  instant,  and  a stream  of  wine 
began  to  flow  ; but  it  soon  ceased,  except  at 
meal'  times.  Some  of  the  peasants  living  in 
the  neighborhood  heard  of  this  wonderful 
miracle,  and  ran  with  as  many  bottles  as  they 
could  carry  to  take  a supply  of  wine  home 
with  them.  But  God  intended  that  the  wine 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Aniaranthe.  23 

should  only  be  for  the  necessities  of  those 
laboring  in  the  good  work  of  building  the 
bridge,  so  they  were  disappointed  in  not  ob- 
taining any.  As  soon  as  the  bridge  was  com- 
pleted the  miraculous  supply  of  wine  ceased 
entirely. 

When  provisions  failed  the  holy  man  knelt 
on  the  river  bank,  made  the  sign  of  the  cross 
over  the  water,  and  commanded  the  fishes  to 
come  to  him.  They  obeyed.  As  many  as 
he  needed  he  took,  gave  his  blessing  to  the 
others  and  sent  them  away. 

During  all  the  time  it  took  to  build  the 
bridge  he  contented  himself  with  preaching 
on  Sundays  and  feast-days.  But  as  soon  as 
it  was  finished  he  resumed  his  daily  preaching 
and  with  blessings  still  more  abundant  than 
formerly.  Learning  that  several  bad  catholics 
laughed  at  excommunication,  he  wished  to 
explain  its  nature  and  effects  to  the  people, 
and  as  he  had  to  treat  with  the  simple  and 
uneducated  he  chose  to  do  so  by  a striking 
example.  He  pronounced  the  words  of  ex- 
communication  over  some  loaves  of  white 
bread  a woman  passing  by  carried  in  a basket, 
and  in  a moment  they  became  as  black  as 


24  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe. 

coal  ; then  to  teach  that  the  church  never 
rejects  penitent  sinners  but  restores  them  to 
their  former  state  upon  their  repentance,  he 
removed  the  excommunication  and  immedi- 
ately the  loaves  became  as  white  as  they  were 
before.  Thus  he  spent  his  days  in  instructing 
the  ignorant  and  exhorting  sinners  to  repent- 
ance, again  and  again  returning  to  his  be- 
loved retreat  at  Amaranthe  to  prepare  him- 
self anew  for  fresh  labors. 

The  day  of  his  death  was  revealed  to  him. 
He  was  seized  with  a fever  which  confined 
him  to  bed.  As  soon  as  his  illness  became 
known  crowds  ran  to  receive  his  last  blessing 
and  to  recommend  themselves  to  his  prayers. 
The  charity  which  had  always  burned  so 
brightly  in  his  heart  gave  him  strength  to 
overcome  the  weakness  of  his  body,  and 
his  death-bed  became  a pulpit  from  which 
he  preached  to  those  who  came  around 
him. 

When  the  people  expressed  their  heartfelt 
sorrow  at  his  approaching  death  he  told  them 
that  it  would  separate  his  body  only  from 
them,  and  that  he  would  always  be  present 
with  them  in  spirit,  and  would  be  of  more  use 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amur  ant  he . 25 

to  them  in  heaven  than  he  had  been  while  on 
earth. 

He  received  the  last  sacraments  of  God’s 
holy  church  with  touching  dispositions,  after 
wiiich  he  was  favored  with  a heavenly  visit 
from  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  hosts  of  the 
Blessed.  God’s  holy  mother  sweetly  invited 
him  to  enjoy  the  reward  her  Divine  Son  had 
prepared  for  him.  He  received  the  invitation 
with  transports  of  joy,  during  which  he  gave 
his  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator  and  in 
the  company  of  the  Saints  and  their  glorious 
Queen  went  to  heaven.  It  was  the  tenth  day 
of  January,  1259.  He  had  passed  seventy-two 
years  on  earth. 

In  all  the  neighboring  villages  a voice  was 
heard  calling  the  people  to  his  funeral.  They 
ran  to  his  hermitage,  bathed  his  holy  body 
with  their  tears,  and  after  reciting  the  office  of 
the  dead,  buried  it  under  the  Altar  of  his  own 
little  chapel. 

Pilgrimages  to  his  tomb  began  at  once.  So 
universal  was  the  opinion  of  his  eternal  happi- 
ness, and  so  absolute  the  conviction  that  he  had 
at  once  entered  heaven,  that  the  people  had 
recourse  to  his  prayers  in  all  their  necessities. 


26 


Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe. 

When  any  one  fell  sick  he  was  at  once  car- 
ried to  the  tomb  of  Blessed  Gonzalvo  ; in  all 
their  bodily  and  spiritual  wants  they  turned  to 
him,  and  their  confidence  was  not  misplaced, 
for  many  and  remarkable  were  the  answers  to 
their  simple  and  confiding  prayers. 

Father  Sampeyo,  who  lived  in  the  sixteenth 
century  and  who  wrote  his  life,  declares  in  his 
preface  that  he  himself  was  miraculously  cured 
of  a deadly  sickness  by  the  blessed  man,  and 
assures  us  that  in  his  time  tlie  Portuguese 
made  pilgrimages  to  his  tomb  with  the 
same  trust  and  devotion  as  they  had  in 
the  intercession  of  St.  James  patron  of 
Spain. 

The  number  of  miracles  wrought  by  Blessed 
Gonzalvo  is  very  great,  and  there  is  no  sick- 
ness which  he  has  not  cured.  A long  list  is 
given  by  the  Bollandists.  One  miracle  de- 
serves mention.  In  the  year  1400  when  the 
waters  of  the  river  Tamage  rose  to  an  unex- 
ampled height,  the  astonished  inhabitants  be- 
held Blessed  Gonzalvo  appear  over  the  rushing 
flood,  carefully  guiding  the  branches  of  trees 
washed  down  by  the  flood  through  the  arches 
of  the  bridge  he  had  built,  which  would  other- 


Blessed  Goitzalvo  of  Amaranthe.  27 

wise  have  been  broken  down  by  the  force  of 
the  shock  against  the  piers. 

So  many  miracles  at  length  led  the  Domini- 
can Order  to  petition  the  King  of  Portugal, 
John  IIP,  to  give  the  care  of  the  chapel  at 
Amaranthe  into  their  own  hands.  He  con- 
sented, 1540.  He  also  built  a monastery  for 
the  Fathers  near  the  chapel.  He  and  several 
of  his  successors  warmly  solicited  the  Hoi}’ 
See  to  canonize  Gonzalvo.  Pope  Pius  IV. 
allowed  the  Dominican  Fathers  and  secular 
clergy  in  all  Portuguese  possessions  to  cele- 
brate Mass  and  to  say  office  in  his  honor. 
Clement  X.,  at  the  request  of  the  Portuguese 
Ambassador  and  the  Master-General  of  the 
Dominican  Order,  Father  John  Thomas 
Rocaberti,  extended  this  privilege  to  the 
whole  Dominican  Order. 

Prayer. 

Antiphon.  O Gonzalvo,  admirable  confessor 
of  Christ,  unwearied  preacher  of  the  Truth, 
graciously  intercede  for  us  who  sing  thy 
praises,  and  help  us,  O Father,  with  th}^  loving 
prayers  at  the  throne  of  the  eternal  Majesty. 

Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Gonzalvo. 


28  Blessed  Gonzalvo  of  Amaranthe, 

That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  prom- 
ises of  Christ. 


Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  didst  wonderfully  inflame  the 
mind  of  Blessed  Gonzalvo,  Thy  Confessor, 
with  the  love  of  Thy  holy  name,  grant  we 
beseech  Thee  that  treading  in  his  footsteps  we 
may  ever  think  on  Thee  and  with  fervent  zeal 
ask  those  things  that  are  agreeable  to  Thee, 
Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  ANDREW  OF  PESCHIERA 


BLESSED  ANDREW  OF  PESCHIERA. 


JANUARY  9. 

The  lives  of  some  of  the  saints  are  crowded 
with  dramatic  incidents  while  others  are 
almost  devoid  of  ordinary  human  interest,  the 
perfection  of  virtue  to  which  man  aided  by 
God’s  grace  can  attain,  being  the  sum  of  their 
lives  on  earth  ; but  from  every  saint  we  can 
learn  some  holy  lesson  or  impress  some  ster- 
ling truth  on  our  minds  by  reading  the  record 
of  their  lives. 

In  the  life  of  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera 
there  is  little  of  merely  hir-nan  interest  to 
chronicle  ; yet  it  teaches  us  the  golden  truth 
that  a man  who  devotes  all  the  faculties  of  his 
mind  and  the  energies  of  his  soul  to  the  good 
of  his  fellow  men,  is  precious  in  the  sight  of 
God,  and  that  great  beyond  conception  will  be 
his  reward. 

Andrew  Grego  was  born  at  the  beginning  of 
the  fifteenth  century.  Peschiera,  a village  on 


32  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera. 

the  borders  of  the  lake  of  Gardo,  in  the  north 
of  Italy  was  his  birthplace.  His  parents  were 
poor,  pious  and  edifying  in  their  life.  As  a 
proof  of  the  truth  of  the  saying  that  “ the 
child  is  father  of  the  man  ” little  Andrew  was 
a saintly  boy,  and  many  there  were  who  fore- 
told that  his  after  life  would  be  remarkable  for 
holiness. 

At  a very  early  age  he  imitated  the  saints  in 
their  self-denial  and  habits  of  prayer.  He  did 
not  care  to  join  children  of  his  own  age  in 
their  simple  amusements,  but  chose  to  go 
aside  to  pray  in  silence  and  solitude.  At 
meals  he  contented  himself  with  the  coarsest 
and  commonest  food.  He  fasted  the  whole 
Lenten  season  on  bread  and  water,  a custom 
he  continued  until  death.  As  he  grew  older 
the  beauty  of  his  features,  and  the  spiritual 
beauty  of  his  soul  increased.  The  world 
offered  him  many  seducing  pleasures  ; he 
spurned  them  all  to  give  his  heart  entirely  to 
God.  A very  advantageous  marriage  was 
offered  him  ; he  declined  it,  for  he  had  already 
determined  to  live  in  perfect  chastity. 

His  father  died,  confiding  the  care  of  the 
family  to  him.  His  brothers  ill-treated  him. 


Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera,  33 

and  frequently  forced  him  to  sleep  in  the  open 
air.  He  bore  their  ill-treatment  meekly,  never 
complained,  or  showed  any  resentment.  His 
pious  mother,  who  loved  him  tenderly,  pitied 
him  but  was  powerless  to  protect  him  from  his 
brothers’  cruelty. 

At  length  he  became  conscious  of  a divine 
vocation  to  enter  the  Dominican  order,  and 
having  obtained  his  mother’s  blessing  he 
started  for  Brescia,  where  he  hoped  to  find 
an  entrance  into  the  order.  His  brothers  ac- 
companied him  to  the  city  gates  to  say  fare- 
well. When  the  time  of  parting  came,  forget- 
ting their  unkindness,  he  knelt  down  before 
them,  and  humbly  besought  them  to  bless 
him,  and  gave  them  his  stick,  the  only  thing 
he  had  taken  with  him  from  his  father’s  house. 
It  was  preserved,  and  in  after  times  became 
gifted  with  miraculous  power. 

He  was  received  into  the  order  at  Brescia, 
and  from  thence  sent  to  study  in  the  famous 
monastery  of  Saint  Mark  in  Florence. 

It  was  at  the  time  Blessed  Andrew  da 
Chiesa  was  forming  a congregation  in  which 
the  rule  of  the  order  was  observed  in  its  origi- 
nal strictness,  and  which  was  afterwards  erected 


34  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera, 

into  a province.  Trained  in  this  school  of 
sanctity  he  became  very  perfect,  being  espe- 
cially remarkable  for  his  spirit  of  obedience. 
He  never  failed  in  this  virtue,  and  was  often 
heard  to  say  that  to  be  obedient  is  the  same  as 
to  be  a saint.  He  was  no  less  admirable  in 
his  studies,  and  like  all  true  Dominicans  loved 
exceedingly  to  study  the  Scriptures. 

Raised  to  the  dignity  of  the  priesthood,  all 
on  fire  with  love  for  God,  consumed  with 
desire  to  save  souls.  Blessed  Andrew  com- 
menced to  preach  and  immediately  became 
remarkable  for  his  success  in  combating  error 
and  vice.  Obedience  soon  made  known  to 
him  the  future  scene  of  his  apostolic  labors. 
Several  of  his  Dominican  brethren  were  sent 
under  the  leadership  of  Father  Dominic  of 
Pisa  to  evangelize  the  Valtelina,  a fertile  valley 
enclosed  by  the  Alps  and  watered  by  the  river 
Adda.  Two  centuries  before  Saint  Dominic 
had  preached  throughout  this  valley.  It  had 
now  become  a prey  to  the  Manichean  heresy, 
and  needed  such  men  as  the  little  band  of  holy 
Fathers  who  accepted  the  invitation  of  Benigno 
Medici  to  rescue  the  people  from  eternal 
loss. 


Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera,  35 

Blessed  Andrew  was  one  of  the  Fathers 
chosen  for  this  labor  by  the  Donainican  supe- 
riors. He  gave  himself  to  it  heart  and  soul. 
He  devoted  himself  to  the  poor,  visited  their 
homes,  often  passing  the  night  under  the  roof 
of  their  humble  cottages,  sharing  their  frugal 
repasts  of  coarse  bread,  chestnuts,  and  water 
and  sleeping  on  branches  of  trees.  Regarded 
as  a saint,  he  obtained  great  influence  over  the 
people ; one  word  from  him  was  sufficient  to 
quell  those  popular  tumults  which  the  passions 
of  men  stir  up  from  time  to  time.  All  dis- 
putes were  referred  to  him  and  his  decision 
was  always  obeyed. 

Heretics  bowed  their  proud  wills,  and 
abandoned  their  false  doctrines  before  his 
teaching,  overcome  more  by  the  sweet  charity 
and  irresistible  charm  of  sanctity  than  by  argu- 
ments. Every  one  loved  this  holy  priest  so 
austere  to  himself,  but  so  mild  towards  others. 
Every  one  called  him  a saint,  “ the  father  of 
the  poor.” 

Nor  were  miracles  wanting  to  bear  addi- 
tional testimony  to  the  truth  of  the  religion  he 
preached,  to  heighten  the  opinion  of  his 
sanctity.  One  day  as  he  was  disputing  with 


36  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera. 

some  heretics,  a volume  was  given  him  ; it  was 
full  of  errors  against  the  Catholic  faith  espe- 
cially against  devotion  to  the  saints.  When 
he  opened  it,  lo  ! a deadly  viper  escaped  from 
its  leaves  as  if  to  testify  to  the  poison  of  its 
false  doctrines. 

Like  a prudent  workman  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord,  Blessed  Andrew  made  provision 
for  the  future  of  the  people  confided  to  his 
charge.  Knowing  the  weakness  of  men,  their 
natural  proneness  to  fall  into  sin  and  to  em- 
brace errors,  he  built  many  churches,  founded 
new  parishes,  established  several  monasteries 
in  the  Valtelina.  Among  these  was  the  re- 
nowned Dominican  Monastery  of  Morbegno 
which  he  filled  with  zealous  and  learned  priests 
to  act  as  a perpetual  rampart  against  the  insid- 
ious advances  of  heresy  and  vice.  This  mon- 
astery was  his  favorite  home,  and  when 
fatigued  from  his  apostolic  journeys  he  retired 
there  to  obtain  the  rest  and  repose  he  so  much 
needed. 

Never  could  he  be  induced  to  accept  any 
office  in  the  order.  He  cherished  in  his  heart 
a very  tender  devotion  to  the  passion  of  our 
Divine  Lord,  wore  every  Friday  a crown  of 


Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera,  37 

sharp  thorns  on  his  head  concealed  under  the 
Capuce  or  hood  of  his  religious  habit.  He  is 
represented  in  ancient  pictures  with  a crucifix 
in  his  hand,  which  is  supposed  to  have  refer- 
ence to  some  miraculous  favor  received  by  him 
from  God. 

He  dwelt  in  the  Valtelina  more  than  forty- 
five  years  evangelizing  the  people,  travelling 
from  place  in  spite  of  the  heavy  snows,  until 
having  learned  of  his  approaching  death  by 
Divine  revelation,  he  returned  to  the  Monas- 
tery of  Morbegno,  where  receiving  the  last  sac- 
raments he  resigned  his  holy  soul  into  the 
hands  of  his  Maker,  January  18,  1485. 

His  body,  which  sent  forth  a sweet  perfume, 
was  buried  without  special  ceremony,  nor  was 
any  monument  erected  over  his  tomb,  until 
several  miracles  having  been  wrought,  his  relics 
were  solemnly  transferred,  in  the  year  1497,  to 
the  Chapel  of  Saint  Roche,  and  placed  in  a 
costly  tomb.  Over  the  altar  was  painted  a 
picture  of  the  Saint  surrounded  by  rays  of 
light,  and  bearing  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 


“ Pray  for  us,  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera.” 


38  Blessed  Andrew  of  Peschiera» 

A century  and  a half  later,  in  the  year  1630, 
the  plague  broke  out  in  the  Valtelina.  The 
magistrates  of  Morbegno  made  a vow  in  the 
name  of  the  inhabitants  to  pay  the  expense  of 
translating  the  relics  of  Blessed  Andrew  to  a 
still  more  beautiful  shrine.  The  plague  entirely 
ceased,  and  in  grateful  fulfilment  of  this  vow 
the  Biohop  carried  the  relics  around  the  town, 
which  was  richly  decorated  for  the  occasion, 
after  which  they  were  again  deposited  in  the 
Dominican  Church.  His  cultus  was  approved 
by  Pope  Pius  VII.  in  the  year  1820. 

Prayer, 

Ant,  This  saint  is  worthy  to  be  had  in  re- 
membrance by  men  for  he  hath  now  passed  to 
the  joy  of  the  angels. 

V,  Pray  for  us  O Blessed  Andrew. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  didst  adorn 
Blessed  Andrew,  Thy  Confessor,  with  the 
Apostolic  spirit,  grant  that  in  imitation  of  him, 


Blessed  Andrezv  of  Peschiera.  39 

our  words  and  example  may  be  so  profitable 
that  we  may  bear  abundant  fruit  thereby. 
Who  livest  and  reignest  God  world  without 
end.  Amen. 


■3,V 


SAINT  RAYMUND  OF  PENNAFORTE, 
THIRD  MASTER-GENERAL  OF  THE 
ORDER  OF  FRIAR  PREACHERS. 


SAINT  RAYMUND  OF  PENNAFORTE, 
THIRD  MASTER-GENERAL  OF  THE 
ORDER  OF  FRIAR  PREACHERS. 

JANUARY  23. 

Like  many  of  the  Dominican  saints  Saint 
Raymund  is  as  widely  known  for  his  learning 
as  for  his  sanctity.  The  four  characteristic 
marks  of  the  true  Dominican ; devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  consummate  holiness,  elevated 
learning,  and  burning  zeal  for  the  salvation  of 
souls  are  to  be  found  in  him  in  perfection. 

He  was  born,  1175,  in  his  father’s  castle  of 
Pennaforte,  a few  miles  from  Barcelona,  a city 
of  Catalonia,  in  Spain.  The  castle  was  built 
on  rocks  which  rise  from  the  waters  of  the 
river  Monjos.  A Dominican  monastery,  built 
in  1601,  on  the  site  of  the  castle,  still  remains, 
but  with  the  exception  of  one  tower  the  castle 
has  gone  forever.  Saint  Raymund’s  family 
was  noble,  even  royal,  being  allied  to  the  race 
of  the  kings  of  Aragon.  From  his  infancy  he 


44  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte, 

was  blessed  by  God.  “ Although  in  years  a 
child  his  heart  was  that  of  an  old  man,”  says 
one  ancient  author.  It  was  a pious  custom  in 
those  days  for  Catholic  parents  to  dedicate  one 
or  more  of  their  children  to  God’s  service  in 
some  monastery  or  cathedral,  leaving  them  full 
liberty  to  choose,  when  old  enough  to  do  so, 
either  the  ecclesiastical  state  or  to  return  to 
the  world.  Thus  a double  advantage  was 
gained.  The  church  obtained  ministers, 
formed  from  youth  in  the  ecclesiastical  spirit 
and  well  grounded  in  Christian  virtues,  and  in 
many  cases  received  the  wealth  which  would 
have  been  their  fortune  in  life.  Acting  in  the 
spirit  of  faith  Saint  Raymund’s  parents  dedi- 
cated him  to  God  in  his  earliest  years,  and 
sent  him  to  Barcelona  to  be  placed  among  the 
youths  in  the  cathedral  school. 

In  the  deserted  monastery  of  Saint  Dominic 
at  Pennaforte  may  yet  be  seen  two  paintings. 
In  one  Saint  Raymund  is  represented  as  a boy 
of  six  or  seven  years,  listening  to  his  father. 
His  mother  stands  behind  him  and  seems  to 
be  uniting  her  exhortations  to  those  of  her 
husband.  The  other  picture  represents  him  at 
twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age,  clothed  in 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  45 

clerical  dress.  His  father  tenderly  blesses 
him,  as  he  bends  down  and  kisses  his  hand ; 
while  his  mother  stands  aside,  weeping  silent 
tears  of  joy.  An  angel,  in  the  costume  of  a 
traveller,  touches  the  young  cleric  on  his 
shoulder,  and  appears  to  be  urging  his  depart- 
ure. In  the  background  is  a Moorish  servant, 
holding  a beautiful  horse  by  the  bridle,  ready 
for  the  journey.  This  picture  evidently  repre- 
sents young  Raymund’s  departure  from  the 
home  of  his  ancestors  for  the  studious  cloisters 
of  the  cathedral  of  Barcelona. 

In  that  home  of  piety  and  knowledge  the 
youth  learnt  to  despise  the  vain  and  hollow 
pleasures  of  this  world,  and  to  value  that 
heavenly  wisdom  which  is  alone  learned  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross.  He  received  the  seed  of 
sound  Catholic  doctrine  in  good  and  fertile 
soil.  His  progress  in  learning  was  so  great 
that  when  only  twenty  years  old  he  began  to 
teach  the  liberal  arts.  (1196.)  His  disinter- 
estedness was  such  that  his  lectures  were  free 
of  charge.  His  holy  life  edified  all  who  were 
so  happy  as  to  know  him,  and  his  pious  ex- 
ample was  as  eloquent  as  his  teaching.  Eight 
years  were  passed  in  this  way.  We  find  Ray- 


46  Saint  Rayinund  of  Pennaforte, 

mund  in  1204  arbitrating  in  a case  submitted 
to  the  decision  of  the  Bishop  of  Barcelona. 
Herein  was  found  the  first  indication  of  his 
aptitude  for  Canon  Law,  or  law  of  the  church, 
in  those  days  almost  as  universal  as  civil  law  ; 
men  of  the  highest  talent  and  reputation  glory- 
ing in  possessing  a knowledge  of  ecclesiastical 
as  well  as  civil  jurisprudence. 

The  universities  of  Paris  and  Bologna  were 
attracting  students  from  all  parts  of  the  Chris- 
tian world  at  that  time.  Yielding  to  the  com- 
mon impulse  Raymund  gave  up  his  classes, 
and  leaving  his  native  land  for  the  love  of 
knowledge  set  out  for  Bologna.  He  was  not 
alone  on  his  journey.  A cleric,  Peter  Ruber, 
who  afterwards  entered  the  Dominican  order, 
accompanied  him.  The  two  travellers  follow- 
ing the  ancient  Roman  road  from  Spain  to 
Italy,  which  passed  through  Arles  and  Turin, 
arrived  one  day  at  Briangon,  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Genevre.  There  they  heard  of  a great 
miracle  which  had  just  taken  place  in  a village 
called  Saint  Mary  of  Elbeza,  a little  distance 
from  the  road.  Shortly  before  their  arrival  a 
young  man  on  a pious  pilgrimage  to  the  shrine 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  Albeza,  was  attacked 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  47 

by  his  deadly  enemies.  They  cut  off  his 
hands,  and  in  their  ferocious  hate  gouged  out 
his  eyes.  He  continued  on  his  pilgrimage, 
having  an  additional  motive  to  lead  him  as  a 
suppliant  to  Mary’s  feet.  The  young  man’s 
mother  hurried  to  the  shrine,  to  join  her 
prayers  to  his  for  a complete  cure.  She  passed 
the  whole  night  in  prayer  at  the  feet  of  the 
Mother  of  God.  The  “ comforter  of  the 
afflicted,”  who  was  never  known  to  turn  a deaf 
ear  to  a sincere  prayer,  granted  what  she 
asked.  The  bloody  sockets  were  suddenly 
filled  anew  with  eyes,  and  hands  began  to 
form  themselves  in  place  of  those  so  barbar- 
ously cut  off.  Saint  Raymund  saw  these  eyes 
and  the  hands  which  were  not  yet  completely 
formed.  Many  years  later  he  wrote  an 
account  of  what  he  saw,  in  a letter,  addressed 
to  John  of  Vercelli,  Master-General  of  the 
Dominican  order,  beginning  thus:  “ I,  Brother 
Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  the  least  of  the  order 
of  Preachers,  in  the  present  year,  1271,  and 
the  1 8th  of  August,  have  written  the  present 
account  at  the  wish  of  my  brothers,  and  for 
the  honor  of  the  most  holy  Virgin  Mary, 
Mother  of  our  Lord,  Saviour  and  Redeemer 


48  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte, 

Jesus  Christ.”  It  happened,  he  says,  sixty 
years  before,  which  would  make  the  date  of 
their  journey  1210.  This  letter  is  to  be 
found  in  the  edition  of  the  “ Summa  ” of  Saint 
Raymund,  printed  at  Verona. 

With  his  heart  full’  of  love  for  Mary,  Saint 
Raymund  continued  his  journey  and  in  due 
time  arrived  in  Bologna.  He  was  now  thirty- 
five  years  old.  He  concealed  his  talents  and 
fame,  and  set  himself  to  acquire  a full  knowl- 
edge of  those  branches  of  science  of  which  he 
was  as  yet  destitute.  It  was  by  no  means  un- 
usual in  those  times  for  men  of  his  age  and 
reputation  to  become  pupils  at  the  great 
European  universities.  Thus  we  are  told  that 
when  later  on  he  began  to  teach  in  Bologna 

the  principal  nobles  and  literati  went  in 
crowds  to  his  lectures.”  Bologna  was  then  at 
the  height  of  its  glory,  and  had  as  many  as 
ten  thousand  students. 

Saint  Raymund  paid  special  attention  to 
the. study  of  law,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  excel- 
ling in  both,  and  after  six  years  spent  in  per- 
fecting himself,  and  having  taken  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  those  sciences  he  began  a second 
time  to  lecture,  and  again  with  great  success. 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  49 

In  Bologna,  as  in  Barcelona,  his  lectures  were 
free  to  all.  The  senate  of  Bologna,  having 
been  told  of  his  disinterested  conduct  donated 
a large  sum  to  him  every  year,  wishing  to  keep 
him  in  the  city.  Saint  Raymund  accepted  the 
money  but  only  that  he  might  increase  the 
abundant  alms  he  distributed.  When  he  had 
been  teaching  three  years,  Beranger  de  Palon, 
Bishop  of  Barcelona,  returning  from  Rome  to 
his  diocese,  passed  through  Bologna.  He 
heard  nothing  spoken  of  but  the  new  order  of 
Preachers,  which  Dominic  Guzman,  a noble 
Spaniard,  had  founded,  and  the  extraordinary 
fame  of  Raymund,  a professor  from  his  own 
diocese.  Charmed  with  the  holy  lives  of  the 
Dominican  Fathers,  and  thinking  of  the  needs 
of  his  flock,  the  Bishop  obtained  some  of  them 
to  found  a monastery  in  Barcelona,  and  at  the 
same  time  persuaded  Raymund  to  return  with 
him. 

To  establish  the  Dominicans,  the  Bishop,  on 
his  return  to  Barcelona,  gave  the  ground  on 
which  the  famous  monastery  of  Saint  Cather- 
ine the  Martyr  was  built,  provided  a supply  of 
v/ine,  and  made  a present  of  a Bible  with  mar- 
ginal notes  ; the  latter  a princely  gift  in  those 


50  Saint  Rayinuiui  of  Pennaforte. 

days.  Authentic  documents  which  are  still 
extant,  give  us  the  history  of  the  foundation 
of  this  monastery  ; when  the  church  was  com- 
menced and  finished,  when  the  various  chapels 
were  erected,  the  dormitory,  chapter  room, 
hospice  or  infirmary,  and  all  the  various  parts 
of  a house  of  regular  observance.  Alas!  noth- 
ing now  remains  but  the  memory  of  this  beau- 
tiful monastery  and  church,  which  despite 
their  architectral  beauty  could  find  no  favor 
in  the  eyes  of  the  revolutionists  of  1835,  who 
utterly  destroyed  them. 

On  his  arrival  in  Barcelona  in  1219,  Ray- 
mund  met  with  universal  respect  and  admira- 
tion. The  cathedral  canons  consented  to  the 
bishop’s  wish  that  he  should  become  one  of 
their  number.  But  all  the  honors  so  freely 
bestowed  upon  him  only  made  him  more 
humble,  and  caused  him  to  lead  a more 
retired  life.  His  fervent  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Mother  of  God  inspired  him  to  insti- 
tute a more  solemn  celebration  of  the  feast  of 
the  Annunciation,  for  which  he  always  paid 
the  expenses.  But  if  he  allowed  his  devotion 
to  Mary  to  become  known  by  this  act  of  piety, 
he  strove  to  hide  his  virtues  from  the  knowl- 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  5 ^ 

edge  of  the  busy  world.  Yet  all  in  vain. 
None  who  knew  him  could  fail  to  admire  his 
modesty,  his  charity,  mortification,  fervor  and 
regularity  in  attendance  at  the  divine  office  in 
the  cathedral  choir.  He  inspired  such  confi- 
dence in  his  impartiality  and  justice  that 
many  asked  him  to  act  as  arbitrator  in  difficult 
disputes ; and  the  archives  of  the  cathedral  of 
Barcelona  still  preserve  an  agreement  made  by 
his  advice  between  two  canons  of  the  cathe- 
dral who  referred  a dispute  which  had  arisen 
to  his  decision. 

Not  content,  however,  with  the  means  of 
sanctification  the  state  of  a secular  priest 
afforded  him,  Raymund  now  began  to  long 
for  a more  perfect  life.  The  holy  and  apostolic 
life  of  the  sons  of  Saint  Dominic  in  Bologna 
and  Barcelona,  no  doubt  had  greatly  impressed 
him,  and  caused  him  to  wish  to  join  them. 
We  remember  that  while  Saint  Raymund  was 
teaching  in  Bologna  the  disciples  of  Saint 
Dominic  were  preaching  there,  and  that  by 
the  sweet  charm  of  their  holy  lives  no  less 
than  by  their  eloquence,  they  had  stirred  up 
the  whole  city.  The  new  order  founded  by 
Saint  Dominic,  confirmed  in  1215  by  Pope 


52  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

Innocent  III.,  had  already  obtained  a solid 
foundation,  and  made  rapid  progress.  In 
1218  Saint  Dominic  sent  John  of  Navarre,  one 
of  his  first  sixteen  disciples,  Brother  Bertrand, 
and  Brother  Richard  to  Bologna,  and  after  a 
little  time  Michael  de  Uzero  and  Dominic  of 
Segovia,  and  lastly  the  famous  Blessed  Regi- 
nald of  Orleans,  who  soon  captured  the  city 
by  his  fervid  eloquence.  Day  after  day  he 
gained  new  disciples  ; Brother  Clair,  Roland  of 
Cremona,  Brother  Moneta,  numbers  of  jurists 
and  philosophers  gave, way  before  the  force  of 
his  eloquence.  Then  came  the  holy  patriarch 
Dominic.  He  arrived  in  Bologna  in  August 
of  1219.  Bologna  was  to  become  the  centre  of 
his  apostolic  work,  the  favorite  city  of  his  heart, 
the  place  of  his  death,  and  the  custodian  of 
his  relics.  Vocations  followed  in  rapid  succes- 
sion; John  the  Teuton,  Blessed  Sadoc,  St. 
Peter  Martyr  of  Verona,  and  many  others 
entered  the  order  there.  Among  the  pro- 
fessors who  became  Dominicans  in  Bologna 
were  Paul  of  Hungary,  the  first  Dominican 
Provincial  of  that  country,  also  Martin  Fano, 
who  born  in  a palace,  gave  up  his  high  rank 
to  devote  himself  to  teaching,  and  after  he 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  5 3 

had  entered  the  order  refused  a Bishopric,  and 
died  in  the  reputation  of  sanctity,  and  John  of 
Vincenza,  a famous  preacher  of  the  order,  who 
finding  the  churches  too  small  for  his  immense 
audiences  preached  in  the  open  air. 

Although  we  find  no  mention  of  any  meet- 
ing between  Saint  Raymund  and  Saint  Domi- 
nic in  Bologna,  yet  as  we  know  that  Bishop 
Palon  persuaded  Saint  Raymund  to  return  to 
Barcelona  at  the  same  time  that  he  obtained 
from  Saint  Dominic  some  of  his  disciples  to 
found  a monastery  in  Barcelona,  we  may  feel 
sure  that  these  two  saints  must  have  met  at 
that  time. 

“ The  Brothers  having  been  established  a 
short  time,”  says  an  ancient  author,  “ Ray- 
mund consideieJ  their  holy  life  and  the  fruits 
of  a ministry  which  the  Lord  had  made  fertile. 
He,  likewise,  desired  to  walk  in  the  footsteps 
of  Him,  Who,  being  rich,  embraced  poverty 
for  our  sake,  and  Who  gave  Himself  for  the 
salvation  of  souls.  Wisely  laughing  at  the 
world’s  seductions,  he  turned  a cold  shoulder 
on  unstable  advantages,  and  on  Good  Friday 
entered  among  the  Friar  Preachers.”  This 
was  in  1222,  a few  months  after  the  death  of 


54  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte, 

Saint  Dominic.  He  was  forty-seven  years  of 
age. 

An  interesting  relic  of  Saint  Raymund 
remained  in  Barcelona  at  the  beginning  or  this 
century.  On  the  road  leading  to  the  house  of 
the  Gruny  family,  who  were  always  bene- 
factors to  the  Dominicans  in  Barcelona,  was 
a large  stone  on  which  it  is  said  Saint  Ray- 
mund rested  when  on  his  way  to  the  Domini- 
can Monastery;  doubtless  to  calm  himsell  and 
to  brace  himself  up  for  the  sacrifice  he  was 
about  to  make. 

His  example  induced  many  learned  clerics 
and  nobles  to  receive  the  Dominican  habit. 
His  advanced  age  and  noble  birth  seemed  to 
be  an  impediment  to  his  carrying  out  the  rule 
of  an  order  which  obliged  its  members  to 
silence,  severe  penance,  and  rigid  self-denial. 
The  great  doctor  of  canon  law,  for  whose 
presence  two  cities  had  contended,  the  arbitra- 
tor of  difficult  disputes,  the  pride  of  the 
learned  chapter  of  the  cathedral,  appeared  all 
at  once  in  the  humble  habit  of  a Friar 
Preacher,  a novice  learning  in  true  humility 
the  way  of  the  spiritual  life  with  the  docility 
of  a little  child. 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pejinaforte,  55 

O how  beautiful  is  the  life  of  a Dominican 
religious  who  is  filled  with  the  spirit  of  his 
order!  From  morning  till  evening  it  is  a 
series  of  holy  acts ; small  perhaps  in  them- 
selves, but  great  in  virtue  of  their  dedication 
to  the  service  of  God.  In  his  little  cell,  so 
still  and  calm,  even  though  it  be  in  the  heart 
of  a great  city,  all  his  thoughts  are  turned  to 
God,  and  directed  towards  the  salvation  of 
souls.  His  nights  are  spent  in  prayer,  and  his 
days  passed  in  study  and  apostolic  labor. 

Let  us  endeavor  to  learn  how  Saint  Ray- 
mund spent  his  time  at  Saint  Catharine’s 
Monastery  in  Barcelona. 

It  is  the  recreation  after  the  evening  meal. 
Night  draws  near.  The  sound  of  the  church 
bell  rings  through  the  air  to  call  the  commu- 
nity to  Complin  ; that  of  all  parts  of  the  daily 
office  the  most  beautiful.  The  Fathers  rise 
and  go  through  the  cloisters  in  silence  to  the 
choir.  Complin  having  been  recited  the 
“Salve  Regina”  is  sung  in  solemn  procession, 
after  which  all  retire  to  rest.  In  the  middle 
of  the  night  the  bell  again  calls  the  commu- 
nity to  prayer.  All  arise,  pass  through  the  dark 
and  silent  cloisters  to  the  choir  where  they 


56  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte, 

chant  the  office,  and  again  retire  to  rest. 
Only  a short  sleep  is  allowed  them,  for  early 
in  the  morning  they  are  all  in  the  choir  for 
meditation,  the  community  Mass,  and  another 
part  of  the  Divine  office.  The  morning  is 
spent  in  labors  of  various  kinds.  The  Fathers 
study  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  prepare  their 
sermons,  or  each  one  attends  to  the  duties  of 
his  office ; the  novices  study,  or  attend  lectures 
on  Holy  Scriptures,  Philosophy,  and  Theology, 
while  the  Lay  Brothers  labor  in  different  parts 
of  the  monastery,  cooking,  washing,  gardening 
and  the  like. 

Dinner  of  fish  and  vegetables  is  served  in 
the  refectory  at  noon.  All  are  seated,  hooded 
and  silent,  in  a row  at  each  side  of  the  apart- 
ment, while  one  novice  slowly  and  distinctly 
reads  from  some  pious  book  at  a lectern ; so 
that  while  the  body  and  its  forces  are  strength- 
ened with  needful  food,  the  soul  may  be 
refreshed  with  sound  doctrine  and  maxims  of 
Catholic  piety.  The  afternoon  is  spent  in 
much  the  same  way  as  the  morning;  and 
Complin  coming  round  again  completes  the 
happy  day. 

This  was  the  life,  pious,  calm,  and  peaceable 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  57 

which  Saint  Raymund  embraced  when  he 
entered  the  Dominican  order.  But  his 
biographers  have  left  us  some  charming 
details  of  his  personal  life.  They  tell  us  that 
‘tie  was  often  awakened  from  sleep  by  an  angel 
At  time  for  Matins,  that  he  said  the  Divine 
office,  one  of  the  chief  duties  of  a religious  of 
the  ancient  monastic  orders,  very  devoutly,  and 
whether  he  said  it  in  choir  or  elsewhere  always 
said  it  with  the  same  devotion,  the  same 
pauses,  and  bodily  inclinations.  They  tell  us 
he  was  very  careful  also  to  avoid  interruptions, 
and  everything  in  the  way  of  distraction.  We 
learn  from  them  that  he  spent  much  time  in 
prayer  after  Complin  and  again  after  Matins. 
Many  of  the  Fathers  were  accustomed  to  go 
into  the  church  or  cloisters  at  those  times  to 
take  the  discipline,  or  to  pray  in  silence  and 
recollection.  Saint  Raymund  always  made  a 
visit  to  every  altar  in  the  church,  prostrating 
himself  before  each,  and  frequently  chastising 
his  body  with  disciplines.  Sometimes  his  sor- 
row for  his  sins  was  so  great  that  his  groan- 
ing could  be  heard  by  the  whole  community. 
His  biographers  tell  us  that  his  abstemiousness 
in  eating  and  drinking  was  very  remarkable, 


5B  Saint  Raymu7id  of  Pennaforte. 

even  in  a monastery  of  strict  observance.  Ex- 
cept on  Sundays  he  took  but  one  meal  a day. 
In  recreation  time  his  conversation  was  pious 
and  edifying.  Never  would  he  allow  the  absent 
to  be  criticised  or  unfavorably  mentioned  in 
his  hearing,  and  he  took  great  pains  to  defend 
any  one  whose  conduct  was  attacked.  He  con- 
fessed his  sins  every  morning  before  saying 
Mass.  He  once  said  that  if  anything  took 
place  to  hinder  his  saying  Mass  he  felt  un- 
happy the  whole  day.  A column  of  fire 
descended  from  heaven  one  day  when,  he  said 
Mass.  It  enveloped  his  head  and  shoulders 
and  lasted  from  the  consecration  until  he  had 
consumed  the  host. 

He  did  not  hide  his  talents  in  the  cloister. 
He  studied  assiduously,  and  gave  all  his  free 
time  to  the  careful  study  of  Holy  Scripture  ; 
and  he,  the  eminent  canonist  of  European 
reputation,  did  not  disdain  to  attend  the 
courses  of  lectures  given  in  the  monastery 
by  professors  of  less  renown  than  himself. 
When  any  one  consulted  him  on  obscure 
points  of  canon  law,  or  on  any  case  of  con- 
science, instead  of  trusting  to  his  own  opinions 
he  searched  the  works  of  authors  of  weight  to 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  59 

find  if  his  private  opinion  was  warranted  by 
authority.  But  when  he  had  come  to  a deci- 
sion, founded  on  sound  reasons  and  supported 
by  standard  authors,  he  gave  his  opinion  with 
such  firmness  and  confidence  that  they  who 
had  consulted  him  felt  safe  in  following  his 
advice. 

On  entering  the  order  his  first  care  had 
been  to  beg  his  superiors  to  impose  a severe 
penance  on  him  that  he  might  make  some 
satisfaction  to  God  for  the  sins  of  his  youth. 
In  answer  to  this  request  the  Provincial  of 
Spain,  Father  Suero  Gomez,  commanded  him 
to  make  a collection  of  cases  of  conscience,  for 
the  guidance  of  confessors.  The  work  he 
wrote  in  obedience  to  this  command  is  called 
the  “ Summa  of  Saint  Raymund,”  and  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  first  of  its  kind. 

Instead  of  finding  obscurity  in  the  cloister,  as 
he  wished,  his  fame  increased  every  day ; and 
among  those  who  learnt  to  value  his  advice 
and  direction  was  James  I.,  King  of  Aragon, 
who  chose  him  for  his  confessor,  and  profited 
by  his  wisdom  in  carrying  out  a glorious  design 
inspired  by  God.  It  was  the  institution  of  the 
Order  for  the  Redemption  of  Captives.  For 


6o  Saint  Rayrnund  of  Pennaforte, 

many  years  the  Moors,  all  zealous  Mahome- 
tans, and  fierce  enemies  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, had  held  possession  of  many  Spanish 
provinces.  Much  of  the  coast  line  was  under 
their  baneful  power,  and  woe  to  the  Christian 
who  fell  into  their  hands.  No  cruelty  was 
spared  to  force  him  to  deny  his  religion,  and 
every  inducement  held  out  to  lead  him  to 
apostatize.  Every  day  news  came  to  the 
Catholic  cities  of  barbarous  torments  the 
Christians  had  to  suffer  from  the  ferocious 
disciples  of  Mahomet. 

On  the  night  of  the  first  of  August  Saint 
Rayrnund  was  praying  for  those  who  had 
fallen -into  the  hands  of  the  Turks,  when  the 
Blessed  Virgin  appeared  to  him  and  told  him 
she  desired  that  a religious  order  should  be 
founded  devoted  to  the  work  of  redeeming 
Christian  captives  from  the  Moors.  The 
Queen  of  Heaven  appeared  the  same  night  to 
King  James  for  the  same  purpose,  and  also  to 
a holy  Frenchman,  Saint  Peter  Nolasco,  who 
for  several  years  had  labored  with  great  zeal 
and  devotion  in  this  good  work.  Saint  Peter 
Nolasco  belonged  to  one  of  the  first  families  of 
Languedoc.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1189,  in 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  6i 

the  village  of  Mas-le-Saintes-Puelles,  between 
Toulouse  and  Carcasonne,  in  the  south  of 
France.  Saddened  by  the  sight  of  the  rav- 
ages made  by  heresy  he  left  his  native  country 
for  Spain,  and  served  some  time  under  the 
banner  of  Simon  de  Montfort ; and  when 
Peter,  King  of  Aragon,  confided  the  care  of 
his  son,  afterwards  King  James  the  First,  to 
Simon  de  Montfort,  Simon  appointed  Peter 
Nolasco  the  young  Prince’s  Governor.  Peter 
taught  him  to  love  God  with  all  his  heart,  to 
value  justice  aright,  in  a word  to  be  a truly 
Christian  Prince.  He  himself  lived  a very 
holy  life  at  court.  He  spent  four  hours  in 
prayer  every  day,  and  two  every  night.  He 
read  the  Holy  Scriptures  assiduously,  and  did 
much  penance.  But  when  again  and  again, 
tidings  came  of  the  sufferings  inflicted  on  the 
unhappy  Christians  who  fell  into  the  power  of 
the  Moors,  he  resolved  to  devote  his  whole 
fortune  to  their  ransom.  What  was  his  de- 
light then,  as  he  was  preparing  to  carry  out 
his  pious  resolution,  to  be  favored  with  a 
vision  of  the  Mother  of  God,  who  told  him 
that  it  was  God’s  holy  will  that  he  should  es- 
tablish a religious  order  for  this  grand  work, 


62  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

Fearing  to  be  deceived  he  hastened  to  consult 
his  spiritual  director,  Saint  Raymund,  and 
told  him  of  his  vision.  His  delight  was  in- 
creased when  he  learned  that  Saint  Raymund 
had  also  received  the  same  command  from  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  Raymund  proposed  that 
they  should  go  to  the  king  to  ask  his  assist- 
ance for  the  great  work.  When  admitted  to 
the  king’s  presence,  to  their  great  joy  and  sur- 
prise they  learned  that  he  likewise  had  re- 
ceived the  same  command  from  the  same 
heavenly  lips,  and  none  of  them  could  any 
longer  doubt  that  the  visions  were  from  God. 

About  thirty  years  previous  several  Cata- 
lonian gentlemen  had  formed  themselves  into 
a confraternity  for  ransoming  Christians  from 
the  Saracens,  attending  hospitals,  visiting 
prisoners,  and  guarding  the  sea-coast  against 
infidel  invaders.  Nearly  all  the  members  of 
this  confraternity  and  the  priests  attached  to 
it  joined  the  new  order.  The  Order  of  the 
Redemption  of  Captives  was  solemnly  insti- 
tuted in  the  cathedral  of  Barcelona,  August  lo, 
1223.  King  James,  his  whole  court,  and  the 
city  Magistrates  were  present.  The  Bishop 
of  Barcelona  officiated,  and  Saint  Raymund 


Saint  Raymund  of  Penyiaforte,  63 

preached,  and  in  his  sermon  narrated  his 
vision.  After  preaching  he  went  to  the  altar, 
and  taking  a habit,  which  had  been  prepared, 
presented  it  to  King  James  and  the  bishop, 
who  taking  the  front  of  the  scapular,  Saint 
Raymund  holding  the  other  end,  Saint  Peter 
Nolasco  was  by  them  invested  with  the  habit 
of  the  new  order  of  our  Lady  of  Redemption. 
The  habit  consisted  of  a white  tunic,  scapular, 
and  mantle.  On  the  scapular  was  the  arms  of 
the  Kings  of  Aragon.  Saint  Peter  then  gave 
the  habit  to  thirteen  members  of  the  confra- 
ternity, six  priests  and  seven  chevaliers.  In 
addition  to  the  three  vows  of  poverty,  obedi- 
ence, and  chastity,  a fourth  was  added,  to 
devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  the  redemp- 
tion of  captives.  The  rule  of  the  order  was 
compiled  by  Saint  Raymund,  and  was  based 
on  the  rule  of  Saint  Augustine  and  the  Domin- 
ican Constitutions.  The  king  gave  Saint 
Peter  Nolasco  the  hospital  of  Saint  Eulalia  for 
the  first  monastery  of  the  order,  and  several 
nobles  assisted  him  with  donations  to  endow  it. 
The  or  ler  thus  founded  was  formally  approved 
by  Gregory  IX.  in  1235,  under  the  name  of 
“ The  Order  of  our  Lady  of  Redemption," 


64  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

About  this  time  Gregory  IX.  sent  John 
Halgrin,  called  John  of  Abbeville,  Benedictine 
Abbott  of  Besangon  and  Cardinal  of  Santa 
Sabina,  into  Spain  as  legate,  to  obtain  the  ob- 
servance of  some  decrees  of  the  Council  of 
Lateran,  to  preach  a crusade  against  the 
Moors,  and  to  investigate  the  validity  of  the 
marriage  of  King  James  of  Aragon  with 
Eleanora  of  Castile,  entered  into  when  he  was 
only  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  although  they 
were  related  in  the  degrees  forbidden  by  the 
church  no  dispensation  had  been  obtained  for 
the  marriage.  Arriving  at  Barcelona  it  was 
not  long  before  the  legate  heard  of  the 
learned  Father  Raymund,  the  Dominican 
Friar.  He  at  once  consulted  him  on  the 
object  of  his  legation,  and  being  so  pleased 
with  him,  ordered  him  to  accompany  him  on 
his  journey.  Saint  Raymund,  by  the  legate’s 
wish,  assisted  at  the  Council  of  Tarragona,  in 
which  the  king’s-  marriage  was  declared  to  be 
null;  and  he  afterwards  accompanied  him  on 
his  mission  to  organize  the  crusade,  when  he 
fully  justified  his  reputation  for  holiness  and 
wisdom.  He  strictly  observed  all  the  fasts  and 
days  of  abstinence  of  his  order  on  his  journeys, 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  65 

and  as  far  as  he  could  observed  every  monastic 
rule.  He  went  in  advance  of  the  legate,  on 
foot,  with  a fellow  religious  given  to  him  as  a 
companion,  begging  food  and  lodging  as  he 
went  along.  He  prepared  the  people  to  gain 
the  indulgence  of  the  crusade,  and  the  Apos- 
tolic blessing  of  the  Pope’s  envoy ; and  suc- 
ceeded so  well  that  the  legate  found  nothing 
left  for  him  to  do,  and  thus  the  end  of  the 
mission  was  obtained. 

When  the  Cardinal  was  about  to  return  to 
Rome  he  was  sincerely  grieved  to  part  with 
Raymund,  so  charmed  had  he  been  with  him, 
and  desired  to  take  him  to  Rome  with  him. 
But  the  humble  Friar  Preacher  excused  him- 
self, and  the  Cardinal  feared  to  push  his  re- 
quest further.  But  he  could  not  refrain  from 
making  known  to  the  Pope  the  great  services 
rendered  him  by  Saint  Raymund.  Gregory 
at  once  sent  for  him,  and  soon  found  that  his 
worth  had  not  been  exaggerated.  He  made 
him  his  own  confessor,  and  Grand  Penitentiary 
of  the  Roman  Church,  an  office  which  at  the 
present  day  is  held  by  none  but  a Cardinal. 
In  his  office  of  confessor  Raymund  gave  the 
Pope  for  a penance  an  obedience  to  expedite  all 


66  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

matters  relating  to  the  poor  ; and  when  Greg- 
ory found  that  he  could  not  discharge  all  those 
duties  in  person  he  made  Saint  Raymund  his 
agent  in  all  such  matters,  appointing  him,  as 
Blessed  Humbert  de  Romanis  tells  us,  “ Expe- 
ditor of  the  causes  of  the  Poor.”  He  also 
commanded  him  to  make  a collection  of  all 
the  decretals  of  his  predecessors  in  the  chair  of 
Saint  Peter,  and  to  write  an  explanation  of  the 
most  difficult.  Three  years  were  spent  in  this 
enormous  work,  and  when  completed  the  Pope 
was  so  pleased  with  it  that  he  ordered  its  ex- 
clusive use. 

It  was  during  his  residence  in  Rome  that 
Saint  Raymund  from  zeal  for  the  preservation 
of  the  true  faith,  procured  the  establishment 
of  the  Inquisition  in  the  kingdom  of  Aragon. 
For  a long  time  the  Albigensian  heretics,  fly- 
ing from  justice  in  Languedoc,  had  taken 
refuge  in  Aragon  and  Catalonia,  where  they 
attempted  to  propagate  their  pernicious  errors. 

Gregory  the  Ninth  nominated  Saint  Ray- 
mund to  the  Archbishopric  of  Tarragona,  as  a 
public  acknowledgment  of  his  talents,  and  the 
services  he  had  rendered  the  church  ; but  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  Raymund  begged  his  re- 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  67 

lease,  recommending  for  that  office  William 
de  Mongrin,  of  Gerona,  a virtuous  ecclesi- 
astic. At  first  the  Pope  was  inexorable  in 
maintaining  his  nomination,  but  when  the 
saint  sickened  from  grief  he  reluctantly  re- 
voked it.  Raymund  also  refused  the  Arch- 
bishopric of  Braga  in  Portugal,  and  several 
other  exalted  dignities  ; saying  always  that  it 
was  a sufficient  dignity  for  him  to  be  a good 
religious  in  the  order  he  had  entered. 

After  five  years  in  Rome  in  the  service  of 
the  church  and  in  most  responsible  and  fatigu- 
ing duties  without  having  diminished  his 
penances  and  austerities,  he  felt  that  his 
strength  was  failing,  and  his  physician  de- 
clared that  he  must  return  to  his  native  land. 
The  Pope  gave  his  consent,  but  on  condition 
that  he  retained  his  office  of  Grand  Peniten- 
tiary. 

After  a pleasant  voyage  Saint  Raymund 
landed  at  Tossa,  a small  Spanish  port  about 
thirty-six  miles  from  Barcelona.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  four  Dominican  Friars,  who 
thus  became  witnesses  of  a remarkable  miracle. 
A peasant,  called  Barcolo,  working  in  the  har- 
vest field,  was  suddenly  struck  by  apoplexy, 


68  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

deprived  of  the  use  of  speech,  and  became 
quite  insensible.  At  the  sight  of  the  unfortu- 
nate man  Saint  Raymund  thought  of  his  soul 
and  began  to  pray,  begging  all  around  to  join 
him  in  his  prayers  that  he  might  recover  suffi- 
ciently to  make  his  confession  before  he  died. 
After  several  moments  the  saint  arose,  and  ap- 
proached the  man.  “ Barcolo,”  he  said  to 
him,  “ do  you  desire  to  confess?’'  The  dying 
man  opened  his  eyes,  and  distinctly  answered, 
“ Yes,  I do,  and  have  much  desired  it.”  Saint 
Raymund  heard  his  confession,  but  hardly  had 
he  absolved  him  than  he  lost  his  voice  again. 
The  other  Fathers  approached  and  saw  him  die 
quietly  and  calmly,  amid  universal  gratitude  to 
God  for  the  grace  He  had  granted  this  poor 
man  in  answer  to  Saint  Raymund’s  prayers. 

In  the  Bull  of  his  canonization  we  find  the 
following  account  of  a miraculous  grace 
granted  to  his  merits,  evidently  about  this 
time.  A lay  brother,  before  his  entrance  into 
the  order  had  led  a very  licentious  life.  The 
remembrance  of  the  sins  of  his  youth  frequently 
raised  most  annoying  images  of  unlawful 
pleasures  in  his  mind.  One  day  as  he  was  as- 
sisting at  St.  Raymund’s  mass  he  sent  up  a 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  69 

fervent  prayer  to  God  to  deliver  him  from 
these  temptations.  At  the  consecration  he 
saw  in  the  host  a beautiful  child,  enveloped  in 
light,  and  at  the  same  moment  all  the  evil  de- 
sires vanished  never  again  to  return,  and  he 
felt  a delicious  calm  penetrate  his  senses. 
Another  lay  brother,  called  Martin,  had  suf- 
fered continual  headache  for  more  than  two 
years,  and  could  not  bear  the  least  noise.  He 
went  one  day  to  Saint  Raymund  and  en- 
treated him  to  lay  his  hands  on  his  head  and 
cure  him.  Saint  Raymund  did  so;  the  head- 
aches ceased  at  once  and  forever.  A lady,  of 
the  name  of  Elisende  Eymerich,  had  for  a 
long  time  been  afflicted  with  a quartan  fever. 
Saint  Raymund,  accompanied  by  Brother  Wil- 
liam Pons,  paid  her  a visit.  The  sick  woman 
had  great  confidence  in  Saint  Raymund,  and 
asked  him  to  restore  her  to  health.  He  pre- 
tended not  to  understand  her,  too  humble  to 
allow  any  one  to  think  him  a saint.  But  she 
persisted  until  he  gave  way  and  cured  her. 

At  home  once  more  in  his  beloved  monas- 
tery at  Barcelona  he  soon  recovered  his  health. 
He  kept  the  rule  as  strictly  as  before,  prayed 
and  studied  incessantly,  and  most  conscien- 


70  Saint  Rayniund  of  Pennaforte. 

tiously  observed  the  silence  commanded  by 
the  Dominican  constitutions.  But  he  soon 
found  that  even  in  his  monastery  he  could  not 
live  the  retired  and  secluded  life  he  loved  so 
much.  His  renown  was  so  great  that  he  was 
consulted  on  matters  of  all  kinds  by  all  classes 
of  men.  Kind  and  affable  to  all  he  solved 
every  difficulty  submitted  to  his  judgment, 
and  was  much  sought  after.  He  found  that 
his  office  of  Grand  Penitentiary  absorbed  too 
much  of  his  time,  and  wrote  to  the  Pope  to  be 
released  from  its  duties;  alleging  as  a reason 
that  the  facility  with  which  he  could  be  ap- 
proached diminished  the  respect  due  to  the 
Holy  See.  But  to  preserve  and  increase  the 
brotherly  love  which  existed  between  the 
Franciscan  and  Dominican  orders  he  asked  to 
be  allowed  to  retain  his  office  so  far  as  con- 
cerned the  two  orders.  About  this  time  he 
wrote  a work  on  pastoral  visits  by  desire  of 
the  Arragonese  Bishops,  and  another,  in 
answer  to  the  request  of  several  merchants,  on 
the  lawfulness  of  certain  business  practises. 
He  also  assisted  at  two  celebrated  national  as- 
semblies, at  Moncon,  in  1236,  and  at  Tarra- 
gona the  year  following. 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  /l 

Saint  Raymund  loved  the  quiet  and  peace- 
ful seclusion  of  his  beloved  monastery ; it  was 
for  this  he  had  left  the  world  and  the  honors 
it  showered  upon  him.  It  was  the  same  holy 
longing  for  monastic  rest  that  had  caused  him 
to  return  from  Rome.  But  God’s  providence 
was  again  to  call  him  forth  into  public  life. 
The  sad  news  of  the  death  by  shipwreck  of 
Blessed  Jordan  of  Saxony,  the  immediate  suc- 
cessor to  Saint  Dominic  in  the  government  of 
the  order,  having  become  known,  a General 
Chapter  assembled  in  Bologna,  May  28,  1238. 
On  this  grave  occasion  the  fathers  of  the 
chapter  gathered  round  the  tomb  of  Saint 
Dominic,  praying  him  to  make  known  to  them 
him  whom  God  had  chosen  in  His  wisdom  to 
be  his  successor.  An  ancient  author  gives  the 
following  account  of  the  election  of  Saint  Ray- 
mund to  the  office  of  Master-General  of  the 
order. 

“When  Brother  Jordan  of  happy  memory, 
the  second  master  of  the  order  of  Friar 
Preachers  and  the  successor  of  Saint  Dominic, 
had  passed  from  this  world  to  a better  life,  the 
Brothers  were  called  to  Bologna  to  choose  a 
Father  and  Pastor,  and  to  celebrate  the  Gen- 


72  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

eral  Chapter.  According  to  the  custom  and 
law  of  the  order  their  sessions  commenced  on 
Whitmonday.  After  they  had  devoutly  in- 
voked the  Holy  Ghost,  the  religious  of  the 
Lombardese  Province  and  those  who  had 
come  from  other  Provinces  accompanied  the 
Electors  with  great  marks  of  deference  to  the 
hall  prepared  for  the  election.  The  electors 
having  been  locked  up,  the  other  Brothers  re- 
turned to  the  church,  where  they  sent  forth 
fervent  prayers  to  obtain  from  God  a fitting 
pastor.  They  were  to  be  seen  in  the  choir, 
and  especially  at  the  tomb  of  our  holy  father 
Saint  Dominic;  some  weeping,  others  sending 
ardent  sighs  to  heaven ; others  like  doves, 
groaned  within  themselves ; all  were  recol- 
lected in  prayer. 

Now  a very  devout  brother  kneeling  near 
the  tomb  of  our  Blessed  Father,  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  having  touched  him,  he  there  saw 
in  a vision  the  electors  coming  forth  in  a body 
from  the  hall  where  they  had  been  confined. 
Having  come  to  the  church  they  seemed  to 
join  in  adoring  a marble  pillar,  sweating,  from 
base  to  summit,  with  little  drops  of  blood,  and 
inasmuch  as  this  pillar  rested  on  the  pavement 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  73 

and  arose  to  the  vault  it  appeared  to  support 
the  building.  Seeing  this  the  brothers  and 
many  secular  persons  present  made  their  joy 
heard  and  gave  thanks  to  God  for  the  erection 
of  so  precious  and  beautiful  a pillar.  The  vis- 
ion then  faded  away.  Soon  after,  in  about 
the  time  necessary  for  saying  one  nocturn  of 
the  divine  office,  the  electors  came  out  of  the 
cenacle,  called  the  religious  to  chapter,  and 
announced  to  them  that  Brother  Raymund,  of 
Pennafort,  had  been  elected  Master  of  the 
order,  without  any  debate  and  unanimously. 
Great  was  the  joy  of  the  Brothers  to  whom 
God  had  given  a Father  so  holy,  and  so  univer- 
sally venerated  ; still  greater  was  the  joy  of  the 
students,  who  applauded  the  election  of  so 
learned  a master  and  one  so  justly  appreci- 
ated. It  was  remarked  that  on  this  day,  by  a 
coincidence  in  no  way  foreseen,  that  the  reader 
in  the  refectory  lit  upon  this  text  of  Joel, 
“ And  you,  O children  of  Sion,  rejoice,  and  be 
joyful  in  the  Lord  your  God,  because  He  hath 
given  you  a teacher  of  justice.  (Joel,  Cap. 
iii.,  V.  23.)  Truly  this  man  was  a pillar  of 
marble  very  precious,  elevated  in  the  midst  of 
the  church,  and  empurpled  with  a bloody 


74  Saint  Rayniund  of  Pe7tnaforte. 

sweat.  These  words  are  faithful  and  true.  An 
eye  witness  related  them,  and  this  witness  is 
Brother  Stephen  de  Salagnac,  of  Limoges.” 

This  narrative  of  a contemporary  is  taken 
from  documents  collected  in  the  fourteenth 
century  by  Cardinal  Rosell,  a Dominican, 
which  was  produced  on  the  occasion  of  the 
canonization  of  Saint  Raymund.  A copy  has 
been  preserved  in  the  Archives  of  the  congre- 
gation of  Rites. 

St.  Raymund  was  not  present  at  the  chapter. 
The  Fathers,  who  well  knew  his  modesty  and 
unfeigned  humility,  feared  greatly  that  he 
would  decline  the  honor.  They  therefore  sent 
a deputation  to  Barcelona  to  announce  his 
election  to  him,  and  to  beg  him  to  accept  the 
office.  They  were  Hugh  of  Saint  Cher,  Pro- 
vincial of  France,  afterwards  Cardinal,  and  well 
known  for  his  Commentaries  on  Holy  Scrip- 
ture ; Pontius  de  Sparra,  Provincial  of  Prov- 
ence ; Philip,  Provincial  of  Syria ; Stephen, 
Provincial  of  Lombardy,  and  several  others. 
When  told  of  his  election  it  drew  tears  from 
his  eyes,  but  fearing  to  resist  God’s  holy  will 
he  accepted. 

He  governed  the  order  two  years,  during 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  75 

which  time  he  made  admirable  laws  and  rear- 
ranged the  Constitutions  of  the  order,  dividing 
them  into  two  parts.  The  first  part  contains 
regulations  for  the  religious  conduct  of  the 
Fathers  and  Brothers  ; the  second  has  reference 
to  exterior  occupations,  the  various  commu- 
nity officials,  etc.  On  his  journeys  to  make 
visitations  he  always  Avent  on  foot.  When  it 
became  necessary  to  correct  or  reprimand  any 
religious  he  did  it  in  the  kindest  way,  and  by 
his  charity  and  kindness  Avon  all  hearts. 

After  two  years  of  hard  Avork  for  the  good 
of  his  brethren  in  the  order  he  convoked  a 
General  Chapter  to  meet  at  Bologna,  1240,  in 
which  he  resigned  his  office,  pleading  his  great 
age,  seventy,  as  his  reason.  At  first  all  the 
Fathers  refused  to  accept  his  resignation,  but 
when  he  implored  them  to  listen  to  his  re- 
quest they  gave  way.  This  caused  such  sor- 
row and  indignation  in  the  order,  that  in  the 
General  Chapter  of  1241  a laAV  Avas  passed, 
that  for  the  future  the  resignation  of  the  Mas- 
ter-General should  not  be  accepted,  unless  he 
was  entirely  unable  to  perform  the  duties  of 
his  office.  And  in  the  next  General  Chapter 
of  1242  it  was  declared  that  those  Provincials 


76  Saint  Raymiind  of  Pennaforte. 

who  had  accepted  Saint  Raymund’s  resigna- 
tion should  be  deprived  of  their  office.  Freed 
from  the  burden  of  government  he  returned  to 
Barcelona.  He  lived  nearly  thirty  years 
longer,  persevering  in  the  holy  and  peniten- 
tial life  he  had  led  from  the  day  he  had  taken 
the  habit.  His  old  age  was  as  fruitful  in 
labors  as  his  vigorous  youth.  He  was  a son  of 
Saint  Dominic  who  had  instituted  his  order 
for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  his  heart  was  as 
full  of  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  all  : Moors, 
Jews  and  heretics.  At  his  suggestion  the 
Kings  of  Castile  and  Aragon  founded  two 
monasteries  with  colleges  attached  to  them, 
for  the  study  of  Hebrew  and  Arabic ; one  at 
Murcia,  the  other  at  Tunis,  arid  a number  of 
Dominican  Fathers  were  sent  to  Tunis  to 
labor  for  the  conversion  of  the  misguided  peo- 
ple. Writing  to  Blessed  Humbert  de  Roma- 
nis, General  of  the  order,  he  tells  him  of  the 
immense  number  of  conversions  among  the 
Moors  and  Turks  by  the  religious  of  those 
two  monasteries.  It  was  also  at  his  request 
that  the  Angelic  Doctor,  Saint  Thomas 
Aquinas,  the  glory  of  the  Dominican  order  for 
all  ages,  wrote  his  immortal  work  against  the 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte.  77 

same  false  religion,  entitled  the  “ Summa  con- 
tra Gentiles.” 

Honors  were  bestowed  on  Saint  Raymund 
in  rapid  succession.  Popes  gave  him  offices 
which  appeared  to  belong  to  none  but  them- 
selves ; such  as  the  nomination  of  bishops, 
examination  of  the  causes  of  prelates,  with 
power  to  depose,  absolve  or  excommunicate 
them,  to  dispense  with  irregularities,  and  such 
like.  Saint  Raymund  most  strenuously  op- 
posed the  elevation  of  Dominicans  to  the 
episcopate,  and  he  requested  Popes  never  to 
raise  any  of  them  to  the  dignity  of  prelates. 
The  Bishop  of  Barcelona,  Beranger  de  Palon, 
ordered  that  the  executors  of  his  last  will 
should  take  no  steps  whatever  to  carry  it  out 
without  first  consulting  Saint  Raymund,  and 
obtaining  his  approbation  for  all  they  did. 
King  James  I.  of  Aragon  always  consulted 
him  in  every  important  state  business.  He 
sent  him  to  Rome  to  treat  with  Urban  the 
Fourth  on  several  national  matters;  and  on 
his  return  was  so  satisfied  that  he  chose  him 
for  his  confessor  and  director,  and  took  him 
with  him  to  Majorca  to  obtain  the  conversion 
of  the  Moors  of  that  island.  Like  so  many 


78  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte, 


kings,  James  had  allowed  his  evil  passions  to 
master  him.  In  sincere  attachment  to  the 
church,  and  in  unfeigned  assent  to  her  doc- 
trines, this  prince  was  worthy  of  admiration  ; 
but  lust  had  enslaved  him,  and  he  took  the 
miserable  partner  of  his  crime  with  him  to 
Majorca  on  this  occasion.  Saint  Raymund 
boldly  reproved  him  several  times,  and  bade 
him  dismiss  the  miserable  creature.  But  when 
he  saw  that  all  his  remonstrances  were  useless 
he  told  the  king  that  he  could  remain  with 
him  no  longer.  James,  who  in  spite  of  his  sin- 
ful conduct  really  loved  the  saint,  and  knew 
that  he  could  ill  afford  to  lose  his  sage  advice, 
forbade  him  on  pain  of  death  to  return  to  Bar- 
celona without  his  permission.  Saint  Ray- 
mund said  to  his  companion,  a Dominican 
Father,  “You  will  soon  see  that  the  King  of 
heaven  will  confound  the  wickedness  of  this 
earthly  king,  and  provide  me  with  a ship.” 
He  went  to  the  sea-shore,  took  off  his  cappa,  or 
black  cloak,  and  spread  part  of  it  on  the  water, 
while  he  fastened  the  other  part  to  his  staff, 
like  a sail  to  a miniature  mast.  Then  he  fear- 
lessly knelt  down  on  that  part  which  floated 
on  the  water,  and  invited  his  companion  to  do 


Saint  Rayrnund  of  Pennaforte.  79 

the  same.  This  Father’s  faith,  however,  was 
not  so  strong,  and  he  declined  to  do  so.  Saint 
Rayrnund  bade  him  farewell,  and  charged  him 
to  recommend  him  to  the  good  will  of  the 
Prior  and  community  of  the  monastery  of 
Majorca.  Making  the  sign  of  the  cross  he 
pushed  off  from  land,  and  quickly  sailed  awa}' 
on  his  cloak.  Swift  as  an  arrow  he  shot  past 
the  port  which  was  filled  with  ships.  Some 
sailors,  who  had  refused  him  a passage,  saw 
him  sailing  away,  and  set  up  a great  shout  of 
astonishment.  The  king  was  told  of  the 
miracle  and  hastened  to  the  shore,  where  from 
a ship  he  saw  the  saint,  now  already  at  a dis- 
tance, swiftly  sailing  away.  He  was  so 
touched  by  this  wonderful  miracle  that  he  re- 
pented of  his  sin,  and  began  to  lead  a chaste 
and  holy  life.  Saint  Rayrnund  sailed  along 
even  more  rapidly  than  if  he  was  on  board  the 
swiftest  vessel.  He  made  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles  in  six  hours.  On  nearing  Barce- 
lona the  people  who  happened  to  be  near  the 
shore,  noticed  the  frail  vessel,  and  at  first 
thought  it  was  a stray  spar  from  some  ship- 
wreck. But  when  it  cam_e  nearer  what  was 
their  astonishment  to  behold  a man,  robed  in 


8o  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

Avhite,  kneeling  on  a cloak  spread  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  waves,  sailing  along  in  perfect 
safety ! Hearing  their  exclamations  of  aston- 
ishment a crowd  quickly  assembled.  Every 
one  ran  to  see  the  wonder.  They  soon  recog- 
nized their  fellow-citizen,  the  holy  Dominican 
Friar,  Father  Raymund,  of  Pennaforte.  On 
reaching  the  shore  he  stepped  on  land,  and  put 
his  cloak  round  his  shoulders ; it  was  as  dry  as 
if  it  had  never  touched  the  water.  When  he 
came  to  the  monastery  the  gates  opened  of 
themselves  to  allow  the  saint  to  enter.  In 
memory  of  this  astounding  miracle  a tower 
and  chapel  were  built  on  the  spot  where  Saint 
Raymund  landed. 

Six  years  after  this,  the  saint,  whose  life  had 
become  one  long  infirmity,  on  account  of  his 
fasting  and  the  austerity  of  his  habits,  felt  his 
strength  rapidly  failing.  Some  time  before 
this  he  had  petitioned  Pope  Clement  IV.  not 
to  burden  him  any  longer  with  public  duties, 
and  his  wish  having  been  granted  he  passed  all 
his  time  in  preparation  for  death.  When  his 
end  came  near  he  was  visited  by  the  King  of 
Castile,  Alphonsus  the  Wise,  and  by  James 
the  Conqueror,  Kin^  of  Aragon.  They  had 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  8 i 

loved  and  honored  him  as  a Father,  and  now 
came  to  beg  his  blessing  for  the  last  time. 
They  could  not  withhold  their  tears  as  the  holy 
old  man  raised  his  emaciated  hand  to  beg  for 
them  the  blessing  of  Heaven.  Having  received 
all  the  sacraments  of  the  church,  with  a devo- 
tion which  profoundly  moved  his  fellow  relig- 
ious, Saint  Raymund  calmly  and  sweetly  died. 
It  was  seven  in  the  morning  of  the  feast  of  the 
Epiphany,  1275.  He  was  ninety-nine  years  of 
age. 

His  funeral  was  attended  by  the  Kings  of 
Aragon  and  Castile,  attended  by  their  whole 
courts.  He  was  buried  in  the  Dominican 
church  of  Saint  Catherine  the  Martyr,  in  Bar- 
celona. Numerous  miracles  set  the  seal  on  his 
sanctity.  His  body  was  translated  into  a 
magnificent  tomb,  one  hundred  and  five  years 
after  his  burial.  It  was  opened  by  command 
of  Clement  the  Eighth  in  1596,  when  the  dust 
taken  from  it  was  sent  to  all  parts  of  the 
earth  ; and  although  a large  quantity  was  thus 
carried  away  it  was  noticed  that  it  never 
diminished. 

Saint  Raymund  was  beatified  by  Pope  Paul 
V.  and  canonized  by  Clement  VHI.  “The 


82  Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte. 

feast  of  Saint  Raymund,”  says  Touron  at  the 
end  of  the  life  of  this  saint,  “ was  at  first  kept 
on  the  seventh  of  January,  but  was  afterwards 
fixed  for  January  23,  by  a bull  of  Clement  X. 
We  will  not  speak  here,”  he  continues,  “ of 
the  great  number  of  miracles  with  which  God 
seems  to  have  taken  pleasure  in  making  known 
the  glory  of  His  servant,  or  of  his  credit  in 
heaven  in  favor  of  those  who  have  recourse  to 
his  prayers,  Bollandus  has  filled  fifteen  pages 
with  them.  But  the  glory  of  his  heavenly  vir- 
tues and  great  deeds,  the  writings  full  of  light 
and  learning  which  he  has  left  us,  that  odor  of 
sanctity  he  spread  among  the  secular  clergy 
and  in  the  cloister,  the  example  of  charity  and 
firmness  to  all  the  ministers  of  the  sacrament 
of  penance,  the  number  and  wmrth  of  those 
who,  formed  by  him  and  following  in  his  foot- 
steps, have  made  the  monastery  of  Barcelona  a 
seminary  of  saintly  and  learned  men,  always 
ready  to  announce  to  the  people  the  truths  of 
salvation  and  to  defend  Catholic  doctrine 
against  the  enemies  of  the  faith — all  this  is  not 
less  glorious  to  Saint  Raymund’s  memory 
than  miracles.*’ 


Saint  Raymund  of  Pennaforte,  83 
Prayer. 

Ant.  Lead  us  forth,  O Lord,  through  Ray- 
mund’s  loving  prayers,  from  the  house  of  the 
bondage  of  sin  into  the  liberty  of  the  glory  of 
Thy  sons. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Raymund. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

O God,  who  didst  choose  Blessed  Raymund 
for  a glorious  minister  of  the  sacrament  of  pen- 
ance, and  didst  guide  him  wonderfully  across 
the  waves  of  the  sea,  grant  that  through  his 
intercession  we  may  bring  forth  worthy  fruits 
of  penance,  and  at  length  reach  the  haven  of 
salvation,  through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  MARCOLINO  OF  FORLI. 


J 


BLESSED  MARCOLINO  OF  FORLI. 


JANUARY  24. 

In  the  year  1397  a Dominican  Father, 
eighty  years  of  age,  died  in  his  monastery  at 
Forli  in  Romagna.  When  his  brethren  in  the 
order  gathered  around  his  yet  warm  body,  a 
child  of  exquisite  beauty  but  unknown  to 
every  one,  and  believed  to  have  been  an  angel 
in  human  form,  was  seen  going  through  the 
streets  of  the  town,  and  heard  to  cry  aloud 
everywhere,  “ Go  quickly  to  the  Dominican 
Monastery,  Father  Marcolino  is  dead.” 
Among  those  who  heard  the  child  was  a 
woman  bedridden  for  thirty  years,  who  full  of 
belief  in  Father  Marcolino’s  sanctity,  ex- 
claimed, “ O my  God,  if  it  is  true  as  I believe 
it  to  be,  that  you  have  called  away  Father 
Marcolino  to  heaven,  give  me  back  my 
health,”  and  while  she  yet  spoke  she  was 
suddenly  and  miraculously  cured. 

The  people  ran  in  crowds  to  the  monastery 


88  Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli. 

— all  hoping  to  obtain  something  to  treasure 
as  a precious  relic.  It  was  not  possible  to 
bury  him  that  day,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  order.  The  crowd  was  so  great  the 
Fathers  were  obliged  to  defer  the  funeral 
until  nightfall,  and  when  the  people  had 
dispersed,  and  the  doors  of  the  church  were 
closed,  the  remains  were  consigned  to  the 
Monastery  Crypt.  Next  morning  the  people 
finding  the  holy  body  removed  went  to  the 
vault  and  carried  it  again  to  the  church.  A 
sweet  odor  confirmed  the  universal  opinion 
that  he  whose  earthly  body  lay  there,  was 
already  enjoying  the  happiness  of  heaven. 
As  long  as  the  body  lay  in  the  church  it  was 
continually  surrounded  by  the  faithful.  His 
habit  was  cut  to  pieces  and  had  to  be  replaced 
no  less  than  three  times.  The  hope  of  obtain- 
ing a miracle  by  his  intercession  was  their 
object,  and  their  piety  did  not  go  unrewarded. 
So  many  miracles  took  place  that  when  an 
inquiry  was  made  into  the  proofs  of  his 
sanctity  the  ecclesiastical  notaries  attested  that 
they  had  taken  evidence  of  no  less  than 
eighty,  among  which  was  the  resurrection  of  a 
dead  person  to  life. 


Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli.  89 

These  wonders  were  regarded  as  testimony 
from  heaven  to  the  Father’s  sanctity,  and  led 
every  one  to  call  him  a Saint.  And  yet  the 
annals  of  his  life  contain  little  of  what  is 
remarkable.  His  was  a quiet  life  passed  in 
holiness,  hidden  in  God.  No  extraordinary 
events  diversified  its  even  tenor.  Except  b}' 
the  eye  of  the  Creator  it  was  unnoticed,  and  it 
was  only  when  it  had  ceased  in  death  that  it 
became  known  how  fair  it  had  been,  and  how 
perfectly  on  earth  this  hidden  soul  had  ful- 
filled his  mission. 

His  sanctity,  which  is  Blessed  Marcolino’s 
sole  title  to  our  admiration  and  reverence, 
may  be  summed  up  in  few  words ; he  was 
a perfect  religious.  Wanting  in  nothing  that 
is  contained  in  holiness,  he  passed  his  life  in 
the  monasteries  of  his  order,  content  to  be 
known  to  God  alone.  Although  a priest  we 
read  nothing  of  his  apostolic  labors  in  the 
scanty  records  we  possess  of  his  life. 

Some  few  intimations  of  the  beauty  of  his 
soul,  a few  dates  and  ordinary  events,  are  all 
that  is  recorded,  and  yet  he  is  held  up  for  our 
admiration  and  proposed  as  a model  for  our 
pious  imitation. 


90  Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forlu 

Marcolino  Amanni  was  born  in  Forli,  a little 
town  in  Romagna.  He  came  of  a remarkably 
pious  family.  He  entered  a Dominican  monas- 
tery in  his  native  town  when  he  was  ten  years 
of  age.  In  the  novitiate  he  made  solid  progress 
in  the  way  of  perfection,  and  soon  began  to  be 
regarded  as  a model  of  sanctity,  although  so 
young  in  years  and  in  the  religious  life.  He 
observed  the  rule  of  the  order  to  the  letter, 
and  in  its  most  minute  details,  never  accept- 
ing any  dispensation.  Throughout  his  whole 
life  he  kept  a perpetual  fast,  even  in  extreme 
old  age.  He  allowed  himself  little  sleep, 
seated  in  a chair  or  resting  on  a bare  board. 
Religious  poverty,  obedience,  and  chastity  he 
observed  with  rare  fidelity.  Humility,  the 
touchstone  of  true  sanctity,  filled  his  heart 
and  influenced  all  his  actions.  It  caused  him 
to  hide  the  spiritual  graces  bestowed  on  him 
by  God,  and  led  him  to  seek  the  lowest  place, 
to  associate  frequently  with  the  Lay  Brothers, 
and  to  undertake  the  humblest  labors  in  the 
monastery.  He  was  always  calm,  modest  and 
exceedingly  recollected.  Very  sparing  with 
words,  but  ever  ready  with  kind  and  char- 
itable deeds ; attentive  to  the  wants  of 


Blessed  Marcolino  of  ForlL  91 

every  one,  especially  to  those  of  humble 
degree. 

But  his  love  for  prayer  and  contemplation 
was  what  distinguished  him  from  his  fellow 
religious.  His  life  was  spent  in  prayer  and 
sweet  communings  with  God.  His  knees 
became  hardened  and  covered  with  scales,  as 
was  attested  after  his  death.  When  he  prayed 
he  became  absorbed  in  God,  losing  the  use  of 
his  senses,  but  it  was  noticed  that  when  the 
bell  was  rung  at  the  elevation  in  the  Mass,  he 
returned  to  himself  at  once,  and  ran  in  haste 
to  adore  his  Divine  Saviour  in  the  Most  Holy 
Sacrament.  He  seemed,  when  at  prayer,  as 
as  if  asleep,  but  it  was  the  sleep  of  which 
the  spouse  in  the  Canticle  speaks,  when  she 
says,  “ I sleep,  but  my  heart  watches.”  In 
contemplation  his  soul  lost  itself  in  the 
immensity  of  God.  He  fell  into  ecstasy  at  all 
times  and  in  all  places;  sometimes  in  the 
refectory,  but  most  frequently  at  the  altar 
during  the  celebration  of  Holy  Mass,  which  he 
always  celebrated  in  tears.  The  people  often 
wondered  how  the  Father  could  sleep  during 
so  holy  an  action,  but  those  who  knew  him 
could  testify  that  it  was  no  sleep  but  a most 


92  Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli. 

sweet  communing  with  God  which  filled  his 
whole  being  with  holy  rapture.  It  often 
became  necessary  to  call  him  to  take  his 
meals:  he  forgot  bodily  wants  when  he  became 
absorbed  in  God.  ^ 

He  was  remarkable  for  his  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  The  only  property  he 
had  was  a little  statue  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
In  his  great  simplicity  he  often  spoke  to  it ; 
and  tradition  tells  us  that  it  frequently 
answered  him.  After  his  death  it  was  care- 
fully preserved  as  a precious  relic. 

He  loved  the  poor  tenderly  and  gave  them 
all  in  his  power  to  dispose  of.  Above  all,  he 
delighted  in  the  society  of  little  children.  He 
frequently  prophesied,  and  knew  the  secrets  of 
hearts. 

He  wrought  several  miracles.  An  inhabi- 
tant of  Forli,  dangerously  wounded  on  his  head 
bethought  himself  of  the  Blessed  Priest,  and 
earnestly  recommended  himself  to  his  prayers. 
Blessed  Marcolino  appeared  to  him  in  a vision 
during  the  following  night,  touched  his  wound 
several  times,  after  which  he  disappeared  and 
the  wounded  man  found  himself  cured.  An- 
other time  a mother  who  had  lost  her  son  and 


Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli,  93 

had  heard  nothing  of  him  for  three  days, 
begged  Blessed  Marcolino  to  recommend  him 
to  God.  He  promised  he  would  do  so,  and 
while  he  prayed  it  was  revealed  to  him  that 
the  unfortunate  youth  had  been  cruelly 
murdered,  and  his  body  thrown  into  a ditch, 
where  it  lay  hidden  covered  by  branches  of 
trees.  He  told  the  disconsolate  mother  who 
found  the  body  in  the  very  place  he  de- 
scribed. 

Blessed  Marcolino  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  work  of  reformation  in  the  Dominican 
Order  which  the  ravages  of  the  Black  Pest  in 
1348  had  rendered  so  necessary.  Blessed 
Raymund  of  Capua,  the  Master-General  of  the 
order,  employed  him  in  this  difficult  work, 
which  required  as  much  prudence  as  zeal. 
Before  his  death,  he  had  the  happiness  to  see 
the  desired  reform  accomplished. 

He  died  in  the  year  1397.  Sixty  years 
afterwards  the  Bishop  of  Recanati,  a native  of 
Forli,  caused  his  holy  body  to  be  raised  from 
the  grave  and  placed  in  a beautiful  marble 
tomb.  It  was  found  incorrupt.  Miracles 
continuing  in  great  numbers,  Benedict  XIV. 
approved  his  cultus  in  the  year  1750,  and 


94  Blessed  Marcolino  of  Forli. 

allowed  the  clergy  of  Forli  and  the  Domini- 
cans to  celebrate  his  feast. 

Ant.  “ Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant, because  thou  hast  been  faithful  in  a few 
things,  I will  set  thee  over  many  things. 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Marcolino. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

O God,  to  whom  the  prayer  of  the  humble 
and  meek  hath  always  been  pleasing,  grant 
that  we  may  profit  by  the  prayers  and  exam- 
ple of  Blessed  Marcolino,  that  becoming  truly 
meek  and  humble  of  heart  we  may  the  more 
readily  receive  Thy  gifts.  Through  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  BERNARD  SCAMMACC^ 


BLESSED  BERNARD  SCAMMACCA. 


FEBRUARY  9. 

Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca  was  born 
in  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century  at 
Catania,  a city  situated  at  the  foot  of  the 
volcano  of  Mount  Etna  in  Sicily. 

He  had  the  good  fortune  to  receive  a truly 
Christian  education,  for  he  came  of  parents  as 
pious  as  they  were  noble.  But  when  he  began 
to  grow  up  he  forgot  the  religious  teaching  he 
had  received  in  his  youth,  and  let  himself  be 
drawn  away  from  the  path  of  piety  by  the 
seductions  of  society,  letting  loose  the  rein  to 
all  his  evil  passions.  Yet  although  he  blindly 
plunged  into  every  sinful  amusement  and 
pleasure,  the  mercy  of  God  re'^arded  him  with 
pity.  Struck  by  the  hand  of  God,  like  another 
Saint  Paul,  he  arose  to  become  a vase  of  elec- 
tion for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  an  example 
to  His  people.  He  received  a serious  wound 
and  was  forced,  for  a time  at  least,  to  interrupt 


98  Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca. 

the  course  of  his  disorderly  life.  During  the 
long  days  and  sleepless  nights  to  which  his 
accident  condemned  him,  he  began  to  reflect 
on  the  evil  state  of  his  soul.  He  saw  the 
danger  he  was  in.  The  pious  lessons  of  his 
childhood  came  back  to  his  mind,  and  suddenly 
moved  by  divine  grace,  strong  and  sweet,  he 
felt  a better  will  arise  in  his  soul,  and  resolved 
to  give  himself  unreservedly  to  God  by  enter- 
ing a religious  order.  Restored  to  health  he 
lost  no  time  in  carrying  out  his  holy  intention. 
He  did  not  feel  content  with  merely  endeavor- 
ing to  avoid  sin,  like  so  many  who  are  con- 
verted from  wickedness,  but  with  generous 
ardor  he  aspired  to  the  perfect  life,  and  with- 
out delay  humbly  asked  to  be  allowed  to  enter 
as  a novice  in  the  Dominican  Monastery  in 
Catania.  His  petition  was  duly  granted  and 
the  habit  conferred  upon  him.  It  was  soon 
seen  that  his  conversion  was  genuine,  and  so 
solid  that  it  led  him  to  love  with  his  whole 
heart  the  austere  life  of  the  order  he  had 
chosen.  Emulating  the  virtues  of  the  most 
perfect  among  the  religious  of  the  monastery 
he  soon  began  to  excel  them.  He  was  re- 
markable for  true  obedience,  sweetness  of 


Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca.  99 

character  and  manners,  but  especially  for  his 
unfeigned  humility. 

Like  the  thirty  years  of  the  human  life  of 
our  Divine  Lord  in  the  holy  house  of  Naza- 
reth, his  life  passed  away  almost  unrecorded. 
He  lived  and  died  a good  religious  ; said  Mass, 
preached,  heard  confessions ; in  a word  ful- 
filled the  holy  duties  of  his  state  of  life  in  a 
holy  manner.  But  when  we  reflect  on  his  con- 
version to  God  in  his  youth  we  can  conceive 
how  zealous  he  was  for  the  conversion  of  sin- 
ners, and  what  pains  he  took  to  lead  them  to 
a better  life.  The  mercy  God  had  shown  him 
taught  him  to  be  patient  with  those,  who, 
although  they  had  wandered  away  from  God, 
earnestly  sought  to  be  reconciled  to  Him. 

A man  of  prayer.  Blessed  Bernard  was  so 
filled  with  love  for  God,  and  so  deeply  pene- 
trated with  gratitude  to  Him,  that  he  was 
almost  continually  in  profound  contemplation. 
He  gave  full  play  to  the  ardor  of  his  love,  and 
often  retired  into  the  quiet  monastery  garden, 
which  he  found  conducive  to  prayer.  No 
sooner  had  he  begun  to  commune  with  his 
Creator,  than  the  birds  flew  around  him,  perch- 
ing on  his  hands  and  shoulders.  And  the 


lOO 


Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca. 


sweet  sounds  of  their  songs  reminded  him  of 
the  joyous  melodies  of  heaven  and  the  songs 
of  the  saints  around  the  throne  of  God.  The 
birds  hushed  their  voices  as  his  blessed  soul, 
leaving  his  mortal  frame,  became  united  to 
’God  in  deep  contemplation.  They  remained 
near  him  until  returning  to  himself  again  he 
gave  them  his  blessing,  upon  which  they  flew 
away. 

He  once  fell  into  an  ecstasy,  when  a religious 
going  to  speak  to  him,  found  him  kneeling  in 
prayer  before  a crucifix,  his  body  raised  from 
the  ground.  Another  night  Blessed  Bernard 
was  called  out  of  the  monastery  on  an  errand 
of  charity.  The  brother  porter,  going  to  his 
door  and  rapping  at  it  received  no  answer. 
But  seeing  a bright  light  streaming  out  of  a 
chink  in  the  door,  he  peeped  in  and  saw 
Blessed  Bernard  holding  an  open  book  in  his 
hand,  ravished  in  ecstasy,  and  near  him  he  saw 
a beautiful  child,  holding  a flaming  torch, 
which  emitted  a brilliant  light.  Surprised  at 
what  he  saw  the  good  brother  ran  to  the 
Prior’s  cell,  to  tell  him  what  was  taking  place. 
The  Prior  called  the  whole  community  to 
show  them  so  extraordinary  a sight,  and  to 


Blessed  Bernard  Scainmacca. 


loi 


make  known  to  them  what  favors  God  in  His 
goodness,  bestows  on  truly  humble  and  peni- 
tent souls. 

God  granted  everything  Blessed  Bernard 
prayed  for,  and  to  aid  him  in  his  efforts  to  save 
souls  gave  him  the  gift  of  prophecy.  He 
went  one  day  to  the  residence  of  the  President 
of  Catania  to  warn  him  that  his  son  was  in 
danger  of  assassination.  The  president  was  at 
dinner  when  Blessed  Bernard  asked  to  see  him. 
Waiting  until  the  dinner  was  over.  Blessed  Ber- 
nard began  to  pray,  and  fell  into  an  ecstasy,  and 
it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  president’s 
servant  could  restore  him  to  himself.  “ It  is 
quite  useless,”  he  said^  “there  is  no  longer  any 
need  to  speak  to  him,”  and  he  went  away 
without  any  explanation  except  that  the 
young  man  would  die  that  evening,  which 
came  to  pass. 

A lady  who  was  unceasingly  pursued  by  a 
libertine,  asked  Blessed  Bernard  to  protect  her 
against  his  evil  designs.  One  day  soon  after 
as  he  was  on  a journey  with  a fellow  Domini- 
can, he  suddenly  began  to  pray,  then  ceased 
for  a moment,  sighed  heavily  and  said, 
“Brother!  let  us  return  to  our  monastery. 


102 


Blessed  Bernard  Scamrnacca. 


God  is  about  to  punish  that  wicked  man  for 
his  obstinacy.”  Three  days  afterwards  the 
libertine  died  an  impenitent  and  unprovided 
death. 

Prayer  to  God  and  charity  towards  his  fel- 
low creatures  occupied  Blessed  Bernard’s 
whole  life.  Like  St.  Paul,  while  he  preached 
to  others  he  feared  that  he  himself  was  a cast- 
away, and  imitated  that  great  penitent  in  his 
bodily  mortification.  He  never  forgot  the  sins 
of  his  youth,  and  strove  to  redeem  the  crimi- 
nal pleasures  he  had  wallowed  in,  by  severe 
penances.  He  wore  an  iron  chain  round  his 
waist,  and  frequently  took  the  discipline. 

Nothing  more  remains  to  be  told  of  him 
except  that  he  died  in  the  year  i486. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  in  Catania  that  he 
was  dead  a crowd  gathered  at  the  monastery 
to  venerate  his  body,  for  all  deemed  him  a 
saint,  and  all  were  desirous  to  obtain  a share  in 
his  intercession  with  God. 

Fifteen  years  after  his  death  Blessed  Ber- 
nard appeared  to  the  Prior  of  the  monastery, 
and  told  him  to  translate  his  body  from  the 
place  where  he  had  been  buried,  and  to  place 
it  in  the  Rosary  chapel.  The  Prior  obeyed, 


Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca.  103 

and  it  was  found  incorrupt.  Many  miracles 
took  place  during  this  translation.  One  para- 
lytic having  touched  the  holy  body  was  cured 
in  sight  of  all  the  people. 

During  the  ceremonies  the  church  bells  rang 
of  themselves.  The  Count  of  Montegialino 
hearing  them  suspected  the  fathers  of  a pious 
fraud.  “ Let  us  go  and  see  the  new  saint  the 
Dominicans  have  found  among  themselves,” 
he  scornfully  said ; but  when  he  tried  to 
mount  his  horse,  he  fell  and  wounded  his  leg. 
The  wound  mortified,  and  the  physician  fear- 
ing  gangrene  refused  to  attend  him.  But  as 
soon  as  he  repented  of  his  incredulity  and 
prayed  to  Blessed  Bernard  to  take  pity  on  his 
sad  state,  he  was  immediately  cured. 

These  and  other  wonderful  miracles  caused 
very  great  devotion  to  Blessed  Bernard,  and 
one  nobleman  resolved  to  steal  his  body  and 
keep  it  in  his  own  castle^  One  night  the  saint 
appeared  to  several  of  the  community  in  the 
dormitory,  and  warned  them  that  thieves  were 
stealing  his  body.  They  ran  to  the  church 
just  in  time  to  find  a number  of  armed  men, 
who  had  opened  the  tomb,  and  had  carried  the 
sacred  relics  as  far  as  the  church  door ; there 


104  Blessed  Bernard  Scammacca. 

they  became  so  heavy  that  they  could  move 
them  no  farther.  When  they  saw  the  Fathers 
they  fled,  and  the  relics  became  light  again, 
and  were  carried  back  to  their  place  in  the 
Rosary  chapel. 

His  cultus  was  confirmed  and  approved  by 
Pope  Leo  XII.  in  1825. 

Prayer, 

Ant,  Blessed  is  this  saint  who  trusted  in  the 
Lord  ; he  preached  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord,  and  is  now  established  upon  His  holy 
mountain. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Bernard. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  didst  mercifully  bring  back 
Blessed  Bernard  from  the  vices  of  the  world 
and  didst  lead  him  into  the  way  of  perfection, 
grant  through  his  merits  and  intercession  that 
we  may  likewise  bewail  our  sins  and  turn  with 
pure  minds  unto  Thee.  Through  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  REGINALD  OF  ORLEANS. 


1 


I 

1 

1 

J 

I 


BLESSED  REGINALD  OF  ORLEANS. 


FEBRUARY  12. 

The  memory  of  Blessed  Reginald  has 
always  been  held  dear  by  all  who  love  the 
Dominican  Order,  for  it  was  to  him  that  the 
Blessed  Virgin  first  gave  the  white  scapular, 
the  distinctive  part  of  the  Dominican  habit. 

He  was  born  about  the  end  of  the  twelfth 
century;  but  neither  the  year  of  his  birth,  nor 
the  town  in  which  he  was  born  is  known.  He 
was  certainly  a native  of  France.  Some  of 
his  biographers  say  that  he  came  into  this 
world  at  Saint  Gilles,  a small  town  near  Arles, 
on  account  of  which  he  is  often  called  Regi- 
nald of  Saint  Gilles  ; but  others  say  that  it 
was  at  Orleans. 

He  went  to  study  at  the  University  of  Paris 
about  the  year  1193,  and  gained  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Canon  Law  in  1206,  when  he  was 
about  thirty  years  of  age.  He  lectured  on 
Canon  Law  in  Paris  for  five  years,  after  which 


io8  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans. 

his  renown  for  learning  and  piety  having  be- 
come known  to  the  canons  of  Saint  Aignan  in 
Orleans,  they  chose  him  for  their  Dean.  This 
was  about  1212,  for  his  name  as  Dean  is  found 
in  a deed  made  in  that  year.  The  cartons  of 
Saint  Aignan  lived  under  the  rule  of  Saint 
Augustine,  and  had  always  been  remarkable 
for  learning.  They  lived  in  community,  and 
being  immediately  subject  to  the  Holy  See, 
were  exempt  from  Episcopal  jurisdiction. 
The  kings  of  France  had  loaded  them  with 
honors  and  gifts.  They  possessed  ample  reve- 
nues, and  enjoyed  the  patronage  of  many  rich 
church  benefices.  Thus  we  see  Vvhat  an  im- 
portant and  honorable  office  was  conferred  on 
Blessed  Reginald  and  we  learn  in  what  es- 
teem he  must  have  been  held  since  the  canons 
were  induced  to  elect  him  their  superior. 

On  his  arrival  in  Orleans  he  found  the  chap- 
ter in  confusion.  The  canons  had  opposed 
the  late  dean,  and  he  had  led  them  into  litiga- 
tion with  the  bishop.  In  a few  weeks,  by 
moderation  and  a spirit  of  reconciliation,  Regi- 
nald had  restored  harmony  to  the  chapter,  and 
made  peace  with  the  bishop,  with  whom  he 
became  so  fast  a friend  that  one  writer  says, 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  109 

“ These  two  were  so  strictly  united  that  one 
would  think  the  dean  was  the  bishop  and  the 
bishop  the  dean.’*  The  duties  of  his  office 
and  the  quasi-monastic  life  led  by  the  canons 
would  have  satisfied  the  aspirations  of  hearts 
less  noble  or  less  pious  than  his.  But  he,  in 
the  greatness  of  his  love  for  God,  was  not  con 
tent.  The  voice  of  his  Divine  Master  seemed 
ever  to  be  whispering  in  his  ears,  ' The  har 
vest  is  great  but  the  laborers  are  few.  ” The 
thought  of  so  many  souls  wandering  away 
from  God,  oftentimes  for  the  lack  of  a guide 
to  show  them  the  way  of  truth,  was  ever  in 
his  mind.  In  the  fulness  of  his  manhood,  as 
well  as  in  his  youth,  he  had  always  dreamed  of 
the  apostolate,  and  had  yearned  to  spend  his 
life  in  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  souls  in 
some  religious  order,  vowed  to  penance,  prayer 
and  preaching.  But  could  such  an  order  be 
found  ? 

While  he  was  thus  unsettled  in  his  mind  the 
Bishop  of  Orleans  invited  him  to  accompany 
him  on  a pilgrimage  to  Rome  and  the  Holy 
Land.  Reginald  readily  agreed,  and  they  set 
out  early  in  the  year  1218.  They  arrived  in 
Rome  about  Easter.  While  in  the  Eternal 


no  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans. 

City  Reginald  became  the  friend  of  a Cardinal, 
to  whom  he  opened  his  heart  and  made  known 
to  him  the  state  of  his  soul  and  its  aspirations. 
He  told  him  of  his  longing  to  give  up  all  for 
Christ’s  sake,  and  being  poor  in  deed  as  in 
heart  to  go  about  preaching  the  gospel  to  the 
poor.  The  Cardinal  answered  that  in  the 
newly  founded  order  of  Friar  Preachers  he 
would  find  all  he  desired,  and  told  him  that 
the  founder  of  the  order,  Dominic  Guzman, 
famous  already  for  his  holiness  and  miracles, 
was  in  Rome  preaching  daily  to  large  crowds 
of  people.  As  soon  as  Reginald  heard  this  he 
ran  to  find  Saint  Dominic,  and  soon  fell  under 
our  most  holy  Father’s  influence,  attracted  by 
his  sanctity  and  charmed  by  his  conversation 
and  preaching;  and  finding  in  the  new  order 
all  he  desired  he  determined  to  enter  its  ranks. 

But  before  he  could  carry  out  his  intention 
he  fell  sick  of  a fever,  which  brought  him  to 
the  verge  of  death.  When  Saint  Dominic 
heard  of  it  he  was  afraid  he  would  lose  a disci- 
ple in  whom  he  had  placed  great  hopes  of  in- 
creasing his  infant  order ; and  he  began  to 
pray  very  earnestly  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  to 
spare  Reginald’s  life.  She  heard  his  prayers ; 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  ill 

for  as  Reginald  was  lying  on  his  bed  of  sick- 
ness, momentarily  expecting  death,  the  Blessed 
Mother  of  God  appeared  before  his  eyes.  She 
was  accompanied  by  two  beautiful  maidens, 
one  holding  a vase  of  precious  perfumes,  while 
the  other  carried  a long  white  scapular  in  her 
hands.  The  Queen  of  Heaven  drew  near  him 
and  said,  “ Ask  of  me  what  you  wish  <and  I 
will  grant  it.”  But  when  Reginald  hesitated, 
one  of  the  two  saints  told  him  to  leave  it  to 
the  Blessed  Virgin  to  give  what  she  chose,  to 
which  he  willingly  agreed.  Then  the  holy 
mother  of  God  taking  the  vase  of  heavenly 
oil,  anointed  him  on  the  eyes,  ears,  nostrils, 
mouth,  feet  and  loins,  saying  a prayer  for 
each,  as  is  the  custom  of  the  church  in  admin- 
istering the  sacrament  of  Extreme  Unction. 
All  the  words  she  said  have  not  been  recorded, 
but  when  she  anointed  his  feet  she  said,  “ Let 
thy  feet  be  shod  for  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel of  peace ; ” and  when  she  anointed  his 
reins  she  said,  “ Let  thy  reins  be  girt  with  the 
girdle  of  chastity.”  Then  taking  the  wliite 
scapular  from  the  hands  of  the  attendant  saint 
she  gave  it  to  him,  saying,  “ Behold  the  habit 
of  thy  order,”  Immediately  afterwards  the 


1 12  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans, 

vision  faded  away.  He  was  cured.  Thus  did 
she  who  healed  the  sins  of  mankind  cure  her 
servant  in  his  need. 

Saint  Dominic  saw  all  this  while  in  prayer, 
and  the  next  morning^  went  to  visit  Reginald, 
and  found  him  in  perfect  health.  Three  days 
later  this  vision  was  repeated  in  the  presence 
of  Saint  Dominic  and  a monk  of  the  order  of 
Hospitallers  of  Saint  John.  The  holy  virgin 
anointed  Blessed  Reginald  anew,  and  a second 
time  gave  him  the  white  scapular.  From  that 
time  no  immodest  temptations  troubled  him, 
and  he  felt  not  the  least  sting  of  the  flesh 
which  could  draw  his  mind  away  from  God. 
Saint  Dominic  having  been  a Canon  of  Saint 
Augustine  in  the  Cathedral  of  Osma,  and  hav- 
ing adopted  the  rule  of  that  Saint  for  his 
order,  had  till  then  worn  the  habit  of  an 
Augustinian  Canon : a white  tunic,  and  white 
linen  surplice.  But,  says  Bernard  Gui,  after 
this  heavenly  vision,  and  the  showing  of  the 
scapular  Brother  Dominic  and  his  Brethren 
took  off  their  surplice  and  put  on  the  white 
scapular,  retaining  the  cloak  and  tunic  which 
heretofore  they  had  worn  as  Regular  Canons. 
“ Blessed  are  those,”  says  Thierry  of  Apoldia, 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans.  1 1 3 

“ who  have  been  found  worthy  to  be  clothed 
with  this  habit,  symbol  of  a threefold  grace, 
and  woven  by  the  strong  woman  for  the  guests 
of  her  house.” 

Having  recovered  his  health  by  a miracle 
Reginald  made  his  profession  in  the  Domini- 
can Order,  and  then  went  to  the  Holy  Land 
to  fulfil  his  vow,  leaving  Rome  in  May,  arriv- 
ing in  Sicily  in  October  of  the  same  year.  In 
Sicily  he  founded  a monastery  at  Agosta,  near 
Syracuse.  In  the  garden  of  that  monastery 
there  is  still  to  be  seen  the  withered  trunk  of 
a Cyprus,  from  which  there  exhales  a pleasant 
perfume.  It  is  held  in  great  veneration  ; and 
the  sick,  especially  those  attacked  by  fever,  go 
to  it  to  obtain  health.  More  than  one  mirac- 
ulous cure  has  rewarded  their  faith.  It  is  held 
for  certain  that  this  tree,  of  which  only  the 
trunk  now  remains,  was  a staff  given  by  Saint 
Dominic  to  Reginald  at  starting  on  his  pil- 
grimage, and  which  Reginald  planted  in  the 
ground  when  he  arrived  at  Agosta,  and  which 
took  root  and  blossomed.  To  this  day  it  is 
called  Saint  Dominic's  tree. 

After  satisfying  his  devotion  at  the  shrines 
of  the  Holy  Land  Reginald  returned  to  Rome. 


1 14  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans, 

Saint  Dominic  being  about  to  visit  Spain  ap- 
pointed him  his  vicar  in  his  absence  from 
Italy,  and  sent  him  to  the  newly  founded 
monastery  of  the  order  at  Bologna.  Reginald 
arrived  in  that  city  December  21,  1218.  The 
Brothers,  who  had  been  sent  there  in  the  pre- 
vious spring,  were  living  in  the  direst  poverty. 
Saint  Dominic  visiting  them  on  his  way  to 
Spain  found  them  without  bread,  and  renewed 
the  miracle  he  had  worked  in  Saint  Sixtus  in 
Rome.  At  his  prayer  two  angels  appeared  in 
the  refectory  and  served  the  brothers  with 
bread  of  marvellous  whiteness  and  exquisite 
taste.  Taking  farewell  he  comforted  them  by 
telling  them  that  he  would  send  them  help  in 
their  need.  He  alluded  to  Reginald,  their 
new  vicar,  who  as  soon  as  he  arrived  in 
Bologna  began  to  preach  and  quickly  gained  a 
hearing  for  the  little  community  unknown  till 
then.  His  fiery  eloquence  soon  set  the  city  in 
a ferment.  Every  one  ran  to  hear  the  new 
Paul ; in  one  week  Reginald  was  the  most  re- 
markable man  in  Bologna.  Ecclesiastics  of 
all  ranks,  professors  and  students  of  the  uni- 
versity soon  entered  an  order  which  hitherto 
had  been  unknown,  or  if  known  despised. 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  115 

So  numerous  were  the  sudden  and  unlooked- 
for  conquests  of  Reginald’s  persuasive  voice 
that  many  were  afraid  to  go  to  listen  to  him 
for  fear  of  being  led  to  give  up  the  world  and 
join  the  Dominican  Order.  Among  them  was 
a certain  Master,  or  Professor,  of  the  Univer- 
sity, called  Moneta.  In  the  “ Vitse  Fratrum” 
Father  Gerard  de  Frachet  gives  us  an  account 
of  his  vocation. 

“ When  Blessed  Reginald,  of  holy  memory, 
formerly  Dean  of  Orleans,  was  fervently 
preaching  in  Bologna,  and  attracting  many 
clerics  and  professors,  Master  Moneta,  at  that 
time  lecturing  in  arts,  who  was  famous  in  all 
Lombardy,  having  witnessed  the  conversion  of 
many  began  to  fear  much  lest  he  too  should 
be  caught  by  Reginald’s  words  ; for  which 
cause,  as  far  as  lay  in  him,  he  dissuaded  all  his 
scholars  by  word  of  mouth,  and  by  his  own 
example,  from  going  to  his  preaching.  But 
on  Saint  Stephen’s  day,  when  his  scholars  in- 
vited  their  professor  to  the  sermon,  as  he 
could  not  excuse  himself,  neither  on  account 
of  his  lecture  nor  for  any  other  reason,  he  said 
to  them,  ‘Let  us  first  go  to  Saint  Proculus  to 
hear  Mass.’  They  went  and  heard  not  only 


Ii6  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans. 

one  Mass  but  three.  This  he  did  to  pass 
away  the  time,  so  that  it  would  be  too  late  to 
go  to  the  sermon.  On  their  insisting  he  said, 
‘ Let  us  now  go  to  the  sermon.’  They  went, 
therefore,  and  found  Reginald  already  preach- 
ing, and  the  nave  of  the  church  so  full  that 
they  could  not  enter.  Standing  at  the  church 
doors  and  listening  he  was  caught  at  the  first 
words.  ^ Behold,’  said  Reginald,  ‘ I see  the 
heavens  are  now  open.  Every  one  who  wishes 
can  enter  by  the  open  doors.  May  the  un- 
happy, negligent  souls  see  and  fear  lest  God 
should  close  His  heart,  mouth,  hands,  and  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven  so  that  they  cannot 
enter.  Why  do  you  delay,  O beloved?  Be- 
hold the  heavens  are  opened  ! ’ 

“ After  the  sermon  the  aforesaid  professor 
went  to  Reginald,  touched  by  the  word  of 
God,  and  declared  his  state  and  occupations, 
and  made  his  profession  to  him  ; but  because 
he  was  hindered  in  many  ways,  he  remained 
for  a year  and  over  by  Reginald’s  permission 
in  the  secular  habit ; yet  not  unprofitably,  for 
as  he  had  formerly  turned  away  many  by  his 
words,  so  afterwards  he  led  many,  not  only  to 
hear  Reginald’s  sermons  but  also  to  enter  the 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans.  117 

order.  He  took  them  to  the  sermon,  and  led 
now  one  now  another  into  the  order,  and 
seemed  to  renew  his  own  profession  with  each 
one.  Having  himself  entered  the  order  it  is 
not  easy  to  describe  how  holy  he  was  in  word 
and  doctrine,  and  how  he  excelled  in  refuting 
heresy.”  (Vitoe  Fratrum.  Pars  4,  Cap.  10.) 

Blessed  Reginald  received  as  many  as  one 
hundred  into  the  order  in  the  short  space  of 
six  months,  and  his  sermons  drew  such  a 
crowd  to  hear  him  that  he  was  frequently 
obliged  to  preach  in  the  squares  and  streets. 
The  Dominican  Fathers  had  no  church  of 
their  own  in  Bologna.  On  their  first  arrival 
the  Benedictines  of  Saint  Proculus  gave  them 
permission  to  say  the  divine  office  in  that 
church.  Some  time  afterwards  the  Spanish 
regular  canons  of  Roncevaux  gave  them 
asylum  in  their  hospice,  and  the  charge  of  the 
church  of  Saint  Mary  of  Mascarella.  Like 
their  Divine  Master  they  had  no  place  whereon 
to  lay  their  heads,  and  were  dependent  on  the 
charity  of  strangers.  But  in  the  spring  of 
1219,  through  the  influence  of  Cardinal  Ugo- 
lino,  Papal  Legate,  they  obtained  the  church 
of  Saint  Nicolas  of  the  Vines,  outside  the  city 


Ii8  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans. 

walls,  the  parish  priest  of  that  church  entering 
the  order.  A monastery  was  soon  built,  and 
the  Fathers  had  a home  of  their  own.  But 
before  they  entered  it  a great  difficulty  arose. 
The  noble  family  of  Andaio,  one  of  the  most 
powerful  in  the  north  of  Italy,  possessed  the 
right  of  patronage  over  the  church  of  Saint 
Nicolas,  and  the  head  of  the  family  steadily 
refused  to  cede  it  to  the  Dominicans.  The 
same  family  owned  the  land  round  the  church 
and  obstinately  declined  to  sell  it.  But  God, 
who  often  allows  those  who  labor  for  Him  to 
be  harassed  with  difficulties  in  the  beginning 
of  their  enterprise,  also  graciously  smoothens 
the  way  when  all  hope  seems  to  be  lost. 
Diana,  a daughter  of  this  noble  house  of 
Andaio,  charmed  by  Blessed  Reginald’s  elo- 
quence, came  to  their  aid,  and  persuaded  her 
kinsfolk  to  sell  the  land  and  donate  their 
rights  to  the  struggling  community  of  Friars. 
She  entered  the  second  order  of  Dominican 
Sisters,  lived  and  died  holily,  and  her  name 
having  always  been  held  in  religious  venera- 
tion, the  process  of  her  beatification  is  now 
before  the  Holy  See. 

Successful  in  his  endeavors  to  establish  the 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  1 1 9 

community  of  Bologna  on  a solid  footing, 
Blessed  Reginald  was  no  less  so  in  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Friars,  and  in  his  efforts  to  lead 
them  to  a high  degree  of  sanctity,  both  by  ex- 
ample and  by  his  loving  exhortations.  First 
and  foremost  he  upheld  the  strict  observance 
of  the  Dominican  rule  and  constitutions.  Let 
us  hear  Father  Gerard  de  Frachet : 

“ It  happened  at  Bologna  that  when  a cer- 
tain Brother  had  received  some  coarse  cloth 
without  permission,  and  it  having  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  Blessed  Reginald,  of  happy 
memory,  he  gave  the  Brother  a severe  disci- 
pline in  the  Chapter,  and  burnt  the  cloth  in 
the  cloister  publicly  before  all.  But  when  the 
said  Brother  did  not  acknowledge  his  fault, 
nor  wished  to  humble  himself  to  receive  the 
discipline,  but  rather  murmured,  the  man  of 
God  told  the  Brothers  to  prepare  him  by  force 
for  the  discipline.  Which  having  been  done 
Reginald,  his  eyes  turned  towards  Heaven, 
said  with  tears,  ‘O  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who 
didst  grant  to  Thy  servant  Benedict  the  power 
to  drive  the  devil  from  the  heart  of  one  of  his 
monks,  grant  I beseech  Thee  that  by  the  vir- 
tue of  the  discipline  the  temptation  may  be 


1 20  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans, 

expelled  from  the  soul  of  this  Brother.’  He 
therefore  gave  him  a discipline  so  great  that 
the  Brothers  were  affected  to  tears.  But  the 
weeping  Brother  arising  said,  ‘ I thank  you, 
Father,  for  you  have  truly  expelled  the  devil 
from  me.  I distinctly  felt  a serpent  go  out  of 
my  reins.’  And  continuing  in  these  holy  dis- 
positions he  became  a very  good  and  humble 
Brother.” 

Gerard  de  Frachet  continues  thus, ‘‘A  cer- 
tain Brother,  at  Bologna,  tempted  to  leave  the 
order  and  caught  when  he  was  going  out  of 
the  monastery,  was  led  to  the  chapter  before 
Blessed  Reginald,  and  acknowledged  his  fault. 
Blessed  Reginald  told  him  to  prepare  for  the 
discipline.  He  disciplined  him  severely,  and 
striking  him  forcibly  he  said  three  times, 
‘ Come  out  of  him,  O demon  ! ’ Then  turning 
to  the  Brothers  he  said,  ‘ Let  us  pray.  Brothers, 
that  by  the  discipline  and  prayer  the  devil 
may  fly  from  his  heart.’  When  he  had  prayed 
a long  time  the  Brother  cried  out,  ‘ Listen  to 
me.  Father,’  who  answering,  ‘ What  do  you  say, 
my  son  ?’  the  Brother  said,  ‘ I assure  you  that 
the  devil  has  gone  out  of  me,  and  I promise  to 
persevere.’  Which  having  heard  the  Brothers 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans.  I2i 

were  glad,  giving  thanks  to  God ; and  the 
Brother,  confirmed  in  his  vocation,  remained 
in  the  order.”  (Vitae  Fratrum,  Pars.  IV.  Cap. 
2-) 

It  was  thus  that  the  love  of  a true  father 
and  zeal  for  monastic  discipline  led  Reginald 
to  practise  a severity,  which  will  be  condemned 
no  doubt  by  those  who  love  pleasure  more 
than  their  souPs  welfare,  but  which  all  true 
Christians  and  lovers  of  the  cross  can  readily 
understand.  Sometimes,  however,  although 
encouraged  and  sustained  in  their  vocation  by 
Reginald’s  lofty  spirit,  the  Brothers  were  sub- 
jected to  many  trials  and  doubts  about  their 
vocation.  At  one  time  a tide  of  spiritual  dis- 
couragement threatened  to  engulph  them. 
Gerard  de  Frachet  recounts  what  passed  on 
Ash  Wednesday,  1219.  “In  the  times  ” he 
says,  “ when  the  order  of  Preachers  was  like  a 
young  flock  and  like  a young  plant,  in  the 
monastery  of  Bologna  a movement  of  tempta- 
tion arose  among  the  Brothers,  which  so  cast 
them  down  with  fear,  that  many  of  them  con- 
ferred among  themselves  as  to  which  religious 
order  they  could  transfer  themselves,  fearing 
that  the  Dominican  order,  an  institution,  new 


122  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans. 

and  as  yet  but  little  established,  would  come 
to  naught.  This  was  the  cause  of  such  an  ex- 
citement that  some  of  the  principal  Brothers, 
to  wit,  Brothers  Theobald  of  Sienna,  and  Nic- 
olas Campanus,  thinking  that  they  could  not 
continue  in  the  order  obtained  permission  to 
pass  to  a Cistercian  monastery,  from  Ugo, 
Bishop  of  Ostia,  at  that  time  Legate  of  the 
Holy  See,  and  afterwards  Gregory  IX.  ; which 
letters  of  permission  they  presented  to  Master 
Reginald.  He  called  the  Brothers  together, 
and  very  sad  and  grieving,  made  known  to 
them  the  whole  affair  ; and  the  aforesaid  com- 
motion began  to  increase.  While  Master 
Reginald  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  spoke 
in  his  heart  to  God  in  whom  was  his  whole 
hope.  Brother  Clair  (a  good  and  learned  man, 
who  had  taught  all  the  liberal  arts  while  in  the 
world,  and  was  skilled  in  canon  law  and 
civil  law,  a man  of  great  authority,  and  after- 
wards Prior  Provincial  in  the  Roman  Province, 
and  Penitentiary  and  Chaplain  to  the  Pope), 
began  to  speak  to  the  Brothers,  and  in  many 
ways  and  by  many  reasons  to  comfort  them.” 

“ Hardly  had  he  ended  speaking  when  be- 
hold ! Master  Roland,  of  Cremona,  who  was 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  123 

Regent  of  studies  in  Bologna,  whose  fame  for 
physics  was  spread  through  the  whole  of  Lom- 
bardy, who  later  on  was  the  first  among  the 
(Dominican)  Brothers  to  teach  in  Paris,  trans- 
ported by  the  Spirit  of  God,  fleeing  from  the 
world,  and  carrying  with  him  only  a scarlet 
dress  with  which  he  was  clothed,  came  all 
alone  to  the  Brothers,  and  knocked  at  the  door, 
and  entering,  like  a man  drunk  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  at  once,  without  any  other  words,  asked 
to  be  received  into  the  order.  But  Master 
Reginald,  from  too  great  joy,  not  waiting  till 
some  one  could  seek  for  a habit  took  off  his 
own  capuce,  clothed  him  at  once,  and  Brother 
Guala,  who  was  then  sacristan  having  rung  the 
bell,  which  was  worth  only  twenty  imperial 
pennies,  and  the  Brothers  chanting  the  “ Veni 
Sancte  Spiritus  ” (Come,  O Holy  Spirit)  as  was 
our  custom,  although  on  account  of  the  abun- 
ance  of  tears  and  exuberance  of  joy,  they 
could  hardly  sing,  there  was  a great  crowd  of 
men,  women,  and  students,  and  a wonderful 
excitement  in  the  whole  city.” 

“A  great  devotion  was  again  stirred  up 
towards  the  Brothers ; they  were  universally 
praised,  and  all  the  former  temptations  van- 


124  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans, 

ished.  But  the  two  Brothers,  prostrating  them- 
selves in  the  middle  of  the  chapter  room  ac- 
knowledged that  they  had  done  wrong,  humbly 
confessing  their  fault  with  tears,  gave  up  their 
letters  and  persevered  in  the  order.”  (Vitae 
Fratrum,  Pars.  I.  Cap.  5.) 

About  August  of  the  same  year  (1219),  the 
holy  Father  Saint  Dominic,  returning  from 
Spain,  came  again  to  Bologna.  He  was  re- 
joiced to  find  so  large  a community,  and  that 
he  had  not  been  mistaken  in  the  abilities  of 
Reginald  his  vicar.  He  sent  him  to  Paris, 
believing  that  he  would  do  still  more  for  the 
order  in  his  native  land,  among  his  own  peo- 
ple. We  can  gain  an  inkling  of  the  esteem 
Blessed  Reginald  was  held  by  his  brothers 
from  the  testimony  of  one  historian  of  the 
Dominican  order,  who  tells  us  that,  although 
Saint  Dominic  himself,  their  founder  and  most 
beloved  father,  took  up  his  abode  among  them 
in  Bologna,  yet  Reginald  was  deeply  regretted 
after  his  departure  for  Paris. 

But  whereas  tears  fell  from  their  eyes  as  he 
left  them  the  little  community  in  Paris  was 
filled  with  joy  when  he  arrived.  This  joy,  alas  ! 
was  of  short  duration.  He  had  returned  to 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans.  125 

his  beloved  France  to  die.  Soon  after  his 
arrival,  although  his  strength  was  impaired  by 
his  long  journey,  he  began  again  to  preach  and 
again  drew  many  into  the  order.  His  voice 
worked  wonders.  But  it  soon  became  evident 
that  he  could  not  continue  such  labors,  and  at 
the  same  time  live  so  penitential  a life.  The 
Prior,  Father  Matthew,  warned  him  and  asked 
him  how  he  could  practise  penances  so  severe 
when  he  had  been  raised  in  luxury,  and  had 
enjoyed  every  delicacy  in  his  youth  money 
could  procure.  Reginald  answered,  I do  not 
think  I have  merited  anything  in  the  order,  for 
I have  always  been  so  happy  in  it;  ”_and  he 
continued  his  apostolic  labors  without  soften- 
ing any  of  his  austerities. 

Six  months  after  his  arrival  in  Paris  he  was 
reduced  to  great  weakness  and  came  to  the 
door  of  death.  Father  Matthew  suggested 
that  he  should  receive  the  sacrament  of  ex- 
treme unction  without  delay.  “ I do  not  fear 
death,”  answered  Reginald  ; “ I await  it  with 
joy.  I also  am  awaiting  the  Mother  of  Mercy 
who  anointed  me  in  Rome,  with  her  own  hands, 
in  whom  I place  all  my  hope.  But  for  fear 
that  I might  seem  to  despise  the  ecclesiastical 


126  Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans, 

unction  I am  glad  to  receive  it,  and  humbly 
beg  you  to  administer  it  to  me.”  After  he  had 
received  that  sacrament,  in  the  presence  of  all 
the  Brothers  devoutly  kneeling  in  prayer,  he 
calmly  slept  in  the  Lord.  It  was  in  the  begin- 
ning of  Febuary,  1220. 

As  the  Dominicans  had  as  yet  no  right  of 
burial  in  the  church  of  Saint  James,  his  body 
was  buried  in  the  church  of  Notre  Dame  des 
Champs.  For  four  centuries  his  tomb  was  a 
place  of  pious  pilgrimage,  and  became  famous 
for  miraculous  cures.  His  body  was  taken  up 
between  1605  and  1608,  found  incorrupt,  and 
placed  in  a shrine.  In  1614  the  church  of 
Notre  Dame  des  Champs  was  given  to  the  Car- 
melite Sisters,  and,  his  tomb,  being  within  the 
enclosure,  became  forgotten,  except  by  the 
Dominicans  and  the  Carmelite  Sisters.  During 
the  great  French  revolution  the  holy  relics  dis- 
appeared. 

The  immemorial  cultus  paid  to  him  was  con- 
firmed by  Pius  IX.  in  1875. 

Prayer, 

Ant,  I will  liken  him  to  a wise  man  who  built 
his  house  upon  a rock. 


Blessed  Reginald  of  Orleans,  127 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Reginald. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  ns  pray. 

Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  Who  hast 
given  Thy  blessed  Confessor  Reginald  to  Thy 
most  holy  Mother  by  a special  protection, 
grant  that  by  his  merits  and  prayer,  we  may 
be  strengthened  by  the  perpetual  help  of  the 
same  glorious  Mary,  ever  a virgin.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


f, 


‘ wV, 

:.'  pli  -:  ■_-.  ifte* 


■ ‘ ■i'  ’ V ■ i ' 

i>.'-  ' vv-  ■ 


BLESSED  NICOLAS  OF  GIOVA- 
NAZZO. 


BLESSED  NICOLAS  PALEA 
OF  GIOVANAZZO. 

FEBRUARY  I4. 

Unlike  the  children  of  this  world,  who 
mourn  on  the  anniversary  of  the  death  of 
their  friends  and  relations,  and  rejoice  on  that 
of  their  birth,  the  Catholic  Church  passes  by 
unnoticed  the  birthdays  of  her  saints,  but 
joyfully  commemorates  their  death,  because 
for  a saint,  death  is  the  birth  of  a new  and 
happier  life. 

He  whose  entrance  into  heaven  we  celebrate 
to-day  was  one  of  the  disciples  of  St.  Dominic, 
receiving  the  habit  from  his  holy  hands,  and 
being  privileged  to  be  his  companion  on  many 
of  his  missions.  He  labored  successfully  for 
forty  years,  preaching  missions,  instructing 
the  ignorant,  and  many  times  working  wonder- 
ful miracles. 

He  was  born  in  1 197,  at  Giovanazzo,  near 
Bari,  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples.  At  baptism 


132  Blessed  Nicolas  Pale  a of  Giovanazzo. 

he  received  the  name  of  Nicolas,  in  honor  of 
St.  Nicolas  of  Myra,  greatly  venerated  at 
Bari.  His  father,  Blase,  was  of  the  noble 
family  of  Palea.  His  mother’s  name  was 
Catharine.  They  taught  him  the  holy  fear  of 
God,  and  had  the  dear  consolation  of  knowing 
that  their  lessons  were  not  lost  on  him.  An 
ancient  chronicle  says  of  him,  “ Hardly  eight 
years  old  he  already  gave  up  the  use  of  meat, 
and  his  rigorous  abstinence  went  so  far  that 
he  would  not  eat  it  on  Christmas  day.  His 
father’s  chaplain,  who  was  also  his  tutor, 
soundly  reproved  him  for  his  singularity  of 
life,  and  told  him*  that  to  continue  would 
offend  God,  and  probably  undermine  his 
health.  Young  Nicolas  listened  respectfully, 
but  when  his  tutor  paused  in  his  reproof 
knelt  down,  crossed  his  hands  over  his  breast, 
and  said,  “ Master ! one  day  when  I was  all 
alone  in  my  father’s  house,  a young  man,  of 
rare  beauty,  came  to  me.  He  sent  forth  a 
heavenly  perfume,  and  his  appearance  led  me 
at  once  to  love  him.  He  said  to  me,  “ Son  of 
obedience,  I desire  you  to  deprive  yourself  of 
flesh  meat,  because  you  will  belong  to  a reli- 
gious order  that  observes  perpetual  absti- 


Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo,  133 

nence.”  After  this  he  was  allowed  to  continue 
in  his  penitential  life. 

When  a few  years  older  he  was  sent  to 
study  at  the  famous  University  of  Bologna. 
St.  Dominic  was  preaching  there  at  that  time. 
Nicolas  went  to  hear  him,  and  was  so  im- 
pressed by  the  eloquence  and  spiritual  unction 
of  the  saint  that  he  at  once  sought  an 
interview  with  him,  and  modestly  begged  to 
be  admitted  into  the  number  of  his  spiritual 
children.  Nicolas  was  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  St.  Dominic  saw  in  him  a true 
vocation,  discerned  a soul  after  his  own  heart, 
and  gave  him  the  habit  with  his  own  hands. 
He  sent  him  to  the  monastery  of  Canosa,  near 
Bari,  to  make  his  noviciate,  after  which  he 
took  his  vows.  The  ancient  chronicle  recounts 
a miracle  he  worked  even  when  he  was  a 
novice.  “ During  his  noviciate,”  the  writer 
says,  “Blessed  Nicolas  with  several  of  his 
brethren  passed  near  a town  one  day.  A 
woman,  whose  arm  had  withered  up  and  had 
become  insensible  without  any  life,  was  seen 
on  the  road.  The  holy  novice  was  touched 
with  compassion  at  this  sight,  and  cried  out, 
‘ Poor  woman  ! what  have  you  done  to  your 


134  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo. 

arm ! ’ At  this  his  fellow  novices  chid  him 
for  having  broken  the  silence  by  talking  to  a 
secular  person. 

“ ‘ I gave  way  to  a feeling  of  pity  and  char- 
ity,’ answered  the  novice.  Then  turning 
towards  the  woman  he  said,  ‘ Have  confi- 
dence in  God,  and  believe  that  He  will  grant 
you  the  gift  of  perfect  health.’  ‘ Do  you 
think  so,’  said  the  woman.  ‘Yes,’  continued 
Blessed  Nicolas,  ‘your  faith  will  save  you, 
In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.’  Hardly  had  he 
ceased  speaking  when  the  woman  received  the 
use  of  her  arm  again.” 

St.  Dominic  became  warmly  attached  to 
Blessed  Nicolas;  his  angelic  purity  made  him 
especially  dear  to  him,  and  several  times  he 
took  him  with  him  as  companion  on  his 
apostolic  journeys  in  Italy. 

Shortly  after  his  entrance  into  the  order 
Blessed  Nicolas  paid  a visit  to  Giovanazzo, 
his  native  town.  He  was  accompanied  by 
Brother  Masulio  of  Venice.  On  entering  the 
town  they  saw  a crowd  of  people  gazing  at  a 
sad  scene.  A woman  was  wildly  lamenting 
the  sudden  death  of  her  child.  It  had  fallen 


Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo.  135 

into  a well  and  was  drowned.  “ Have  confi- 
dence,” the  Blessed  youth  said  to  her,  “your 
little  son  will  be  restored  to  you  safe  and 
sound.”  The  sorrowful  mother  fell  on  her 
knees,  and  begged  him  to  give  her  child  back 
toiler.  “What  is  your  little  child’s  name,” 
he  asked.  She  answered  that  its  name  was 
Andrew.  “ For  the  future  you  will  call  him 
Nicolas,”  the  saint  answered,  and  then,  in  a 
loud  voice,  he  commanded  the  inanimate  body 
of  the  child  to  appear.  “ Nicolas,”  he  said, 
“ In  the  name  of  the  Lord,  arise  ! ” At  the 
same  moment  the  body  arose  to  the  surface  of 
the  water,  and  Blessed  Nicolas  taking  it  into 
his  hands,  gave  the  child  alive  to  his  joyful 
mother. 

He  also  worked  several  other  remarkable 
miracles  later  on  in  Giovanazzo,  his  native 
town.  His  sisters  Collette  and  Angelica 
dwelt  there.  Collette  had  a son  dumb  from 
his  birth.  When  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age 
she  bethought  herself  to  ask  her  holy  brother 
to  obtain  a miraculous  cure  for  his  nephew. 
Having  been  eye-witness  of  many  miracles  he 
had  worked,  Collette  reminded  him  that  he 
ought  to  have  as  much  care  of  those  of  his 


136  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo. 

own  blood  as  of  strangers.  One  day  she  sent 
her  dumb  son  to  the  monastery  to  take  the 
fathers  some  bread.  Blessed  Nicolas  took  the 
bread  and  asked  his  nephew  from  whom  it 
came.  At  the  same  moment  the  boy’s  tongue 
was  loosed  and  he  answered,  quite  distinctly, 
“ It  was  my  mother;”  and  from  that  day  he 
could  speak  without  difficulty. 

Another  time  a little  girl  born  blind  was 
taken  to  him  to  be  cured.  He  blessed  her, 
and  the  child  having  taken  hold  of  his  cloak 
placed  it  on  her  eyes,  and  at  once  she  obtained 
the  precious  gift  of  sight,  hitherto  denied  her 
by  God. 

Blessed  Nicolas  was  the  founder  of  several 
monasteries  of  his  order.  He  preached  one 
Lent  in  Trani,  a town  in  Apulia.  His  preach- 
ing excited  so  much  devotion  towards  the 
order  that  the  citizens  asked  him  to  build  a 
monastery  in  their  town.  He  consented,  and 
bade  them  spend  a day  in  prayer,  to  ask  God 
to  make  known  to  them  on  what  site  it  was  to 
be  built.  The  Archbishop,  his  clergy,  and  all 
the  people  acceded  to  his  pious  request,  and 
consecrated  a day  to  prayer  to  learn  the  holy 
will  of  God.  The  next  morning  a cross  of  fire 


Blessed  Nicolas  Pa  lea  of  Giovanazzo.  137 

was  seen  in  the  air  over  the  site  on  which  the 
monastery  was  eventually  built.  Everyone 
recognized  in  this  apparition  of  the  fiery  cross 
a clear  sign  of  God’s  will,  and  it  was  unani- 
mously decided  to  commence  the  work  without 
delay.  Alms  flowed  in,  and  when  completed 
it  was  dedicated  under  the  name  of  Holy 
Cross.  For  many  years  a picture  commem- 
orating this  miracle  was  to  be  seen  hanging  iu 
one  of  the  cells  in  the  monastery  dormitory. 
It  represented  Blessed  Nicolas  holding  in 
his  right  hand  a church,  a fiery  cross  resting 
on  the  summit,  and  in  his  left  hand  a book, 
on  whose  open  page  was  written,  “ Blessed 
Nicolas  of  Giovanazzo,  founder  of  the  Holy 
Cross  in  Trani.” 

He  was  next  elected  Provincial  of  the 
Roman  Province,  after  the  death  of  the 
venerable  Clare  of  Sexto.  This  was  in  1229, 
or  1230,  as  is  known  from  a Bull  addressed 
to  him  by  Pope  Gregory  IX.  Blessed  Nicolas 
at  once  called  together  all  the  religious  put 
under  his  charge,  and  earnestly  addressed 
them,  recommending  them  to  live  in  great 
charity  and  peace  one  with  another,  and,  as 
the  author  of  the  “ VitcE  Fratrum”  tells  us 


13B  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo. 

narrated  to  them  the  following  anecdote  to 
illustrate  his  meaning.  “A  certain  Brother,” 
he  said,  “ had  given  me  much  trouble  without 
any  cause,  and  died  a few  days  afterwards  not 
having  begged  my  pardon.  But  one  night, 
I,  being  unwell,  he  appeared  to  me  in  a dream, 
and  asked  me  to  pardon  him.  Knowing  that 
he  was  dead  I said  to  him,  ‘ Go,  Brother,  and 
ask  pardon  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whose 
hands  you  now  are.’  Going  away  from  me 
when  he  had  asked  pardon  from  Christ  as  I 
bade  him,  our  Lord  said  to  him,  ‘ I will  not 
pardon  you  until  you  have  first  obtained  the 
pardon  of  him  you  have  offended.’  He 
returned  to  me  the  same  night,  and  repeating 
our  Lord’s  words,  he  again  begged  my  for- 
giveness which  he  obtained.  After  which  he 
said  to  me,  ‘See  Brother  Nicolas,  how  evil  it 
is  to  offend  one  s Brother,  and  how  grave  a 
fault  it  is  not  to  please  him.’  ” (Vitae  Fratrum, 
Pars.  4,  Cap.  22.) 

Blessed  Nicolas  was  a prudent  Provincial. 
He  gained  all  hearts  by  sweetness  and  wisdom. 
He  gave  the  habit  to  a very  large  number  of 
novices,  who  in  their  turn  founded  monaster- 
ies, and  labored  zealously  and  successfully  for 


Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo.  139 

the  salvation  of  souls,  and  the  increase  of  the 
order.  He  did  not  interrupt  his  apostolic 
labors,  and  being  as  the  chronicler  has  it,  “a 
most  gracious  preacher,”  converted  many  sin- 
ners to  the  path  of  virtue. 

In  the  year  1231,  Pope  Gregory  IX.,  who 
constantly  availed  himself  of  the  members  of 
the  two  orders  of  mendicant  Friars,  Francis- 
cans and  Dominicans,  for  difficult  diplomatic 
missions,  commanded  Blessed  Nicolas  to  make 
a visitation  of  all  the  monasteries  and  convents 
of  Tuscany,  and  associated  with  him.  Blessed 
John  of  Salerno,  Prior  of  Florence,  and 
another  Dominican  Father,  Frederick  by 
name.  In  the  same  year  Blessed  Nicolas  went 
to  Naples  to  take  formal  possession  of  a new 
monastery  built  there  by  Father  Thomas  de 
Lentino,  later  on  Patriarch  of  Antioch.  It  is 
at  this  time  that  we  must  place  the  following 
anecdote  related  by  Father  Gerard  de  Frachet 
in  the  “ Vitae  Fratrum.”  “ A novice,”  he  says, 
“ of  the  monastery  of  Naples,  having  fallen 
sick,  the  devil,  transfigured  into  an  angel  of 
light,  appeared  to  him  and  persuaded  him  not 
to  speak  to  any  one.  But  the  novice  remem- 
bered a grave  fault  which  he  had  never  yet 


140  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo. 

confessed.  For  fear  of  speaking  he  did  not 
wish  to  say  the  hours  of  the  divine  office,  nor 
even  to  answer  any  question  put  him.  Per- 
ceiving that  he  was  under  some  delusion  the 
Fathers  took  the  sick  novice  to  Father  Nico- 
las. By  force  of  reason  and  examples  Father 
Nicolas  proved  to  the  sick  novice  that  his 
silence  was  inspired  by  the  seduction  of 
the  demon,  who  desired  to  catch  him  in 
his  net,  and  to  draw  him  with  himself  into 
the  eternal  pit.  The  venerable  Father’s 
words  and  the  prayers  of  the  other  Fathers 
saved  the  unfortunate  youth  from  the  mon- 
ster’s jaws.  He  consented  to  speak,  made  his 
confession,  and  understood  the  devil’s  artifice. 
He  died  a short  time  afterwards  in  holy  dispo- 
sitions.” 

Blessed  Nicolas  went  to  Perugia  in  the  year 
1233,  where  he  founded  another  Dominican 
monastery,  afterwards  famous.  Malvenda, 
citing  an  old  work  by  Father  Vincent  Hercu- 
lano,  says,  “It  is  a tradition  come  down  from 
age  to  age  that  Saint  Dominic  came  to 
Perugia,  and  that  he  met  Saint  Francis  there 
one  day  in  the  street  which  leads  to  the  gate 
of  the  holy  angels,  and  that  the  two  saints. 


Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo,  14 1 

united  in  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  tenderly 
embraced  each  other  in  that  place.  Yet  the 
Dominican  order  had  no  monastery  in  Perugia 
during  the  lifetime  of  the  blessed  patriarch 
Dominic.  It  was  not  until  1233,  twelve  years 
later,  that  a monastery  of  our  order  was 
founded  there.  The  cause  which  led  to  its 
foundation  was  as  follows.  A young  noble- 
man of  Perugia,  of  the  illustrious  family  of 
Herman  de  Staffa,  studying  at  that  time  at 
Bologna,  moved  by  the  preaching  of  Blessed 
Nicolas,  gave  up  the  world  and  all  he  possessed, 
took  the  habit,  and  entered  the  order  of  Friar 
Preachers.  Some  time  afterwards  Blessed 
Nicolas  went  to  Perugia.  As  soon  as  he 
began  preaching  he  excited  the  pious  admira- 
tion of  the  crowds  who  ran  to  hear  him,  and 
set  them  on  fire  with  the  love  of  virtue. 

It  thus  happened,  thanks  to  the  fervor  of 
Brother  Christian’s  parents,  for  such  was  the 
name  the  young  nobleman  took  on  entering 
the  order,  and  principally  by  that  force  of 
persuasion  which  his  burning  exhortations 
possessed,  that  the  foundation  of  a monastery 
was  decided  on.  The  Podesta,  or  chief  magis- 
trate of  Perugia,  with  the  common  consent  of 


142  Blessed  Nicolas  Pale  a of  Giovanazzo. 

the  citizens  placed  in  the  hands  of  Blessed 
Nicolas  a standard,  on  which  was  represented 
the  arms  of  the  city ; a griffin  of  silver  on  a 
field  of  gold,  and  declared  that  wherever  he 
planted  it,  there  the  city  would  build  a mon- 
astery of  the  Friar  Preachers.  Nicolas  took 
the  standard  and  planted  it  at  Saint  Peter’s 
Gate,  on  a beautiful  site,  where  one  can  see 
the  smiling  valley  of  Valliano  and  Assissi. 
Without  delay  they  began  to  build  a monas- 
tery and  a magnificent  church  on  that  spot.” 
A picture  of  Blessed  Nicolas  holding  a church 
in  his  hands  hangs  in  the  monastery  cloister. 

In  the  same  year  Blessed  Jordan  of  Saxony, 
second  master-general  of  the  order,  called  a gen- 
eral chapter  at  Bologna,  during  which  the  body 
of  our  most  holy  father  Saint  Dominic  was  sol- 
emnly translated.  In  his  office  as  Provincial  of 
the  Roman  Province,  Blessed  Nicolas  took  part 
in  this  chapter.  The  evening  before  the  transla- 
tion he  was  earnestly  praying  to  God  to  grant 
some  remarkable  miracle  on  the  occasion. 
That  night  in  a vision,  a venerable  man  ap- 
peared to  him  and  said,  “ He  will  receive  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord,  and  the  mercy  of  God  his 
Saviour.”  On  the  following  morning,  the  day 


Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo.  143 

of  the  translation,  Blessed  Nicolas  had  the  in- 
estimable consolation  of  seeing  once  more  the 
body  of  his  father  in  God,  and.  of  finding  it 
incorrupt,  emitting  a most  delicious  perfume. 

Blessed  Nicolas  was  freed  from  his  duties  as 
Provincial  in  1235.  He  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  preaching  in  the  chief  cities  of  Italy. 
Many  miracles  were  worked  by  him  during 
these  fruitful  years.  At  Massa,  Margaret,  a 
noble  lady,  was  suddenly  cured  by  him  of  deaf- 
ness of  nine  years  duration.  At  Arezzo, 
another  lady  of  high  rank,  called  Louisa,  took 
her  little  daughter  who  was  afflicted  with  two 
ulcers,  to  him  to  be  cured.  Falling  on  her 
knees  she  tearfully  begged  him  to  take  pity 
on  her  child,  and  to  obtain  a miracle  from 
God.  He  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  it 
saying  ; “ In  the  name  of  Jesus  ; and  spoke 
to  the  mother  thus:  “The  Lord  Jesus  will 
grant  you  the  grace  you  ask.”  Louisa  returned 
to  her  home  rejoiced,  and  the  day  after  her 
child  was  so  completely  cured  that  there  was 
not  even  a sign  of  any  wound.  As  he  was 
going  to  Milan  one  day  to  preach  he  saw  a 
number  of  devils  surrounding  the  city.  He  was 
seized  with  fear ; but  making  the  sign  of  the 


144  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo, 

cross  they  vanished.  Many  conversions  ac- 
companied his  preaching.  Preaching  at  an- 
other time  in  the  Cathedral  of  Brescia  to  an 
immense  crowd,  two  young  libertines  amused 
themselves  by  immodest  gestures.  The 
Blessed  Father  cried  out,  “ Young  men  ! listen 
to  me,”  and  then  drew  a fearful  word-picture 
of  the  punishment  of  libertines  in  hell ; and 
perceiving  that  they  heeded  not  his  warning  he 
cried  out,  “ O Eternal  God ! they  despise  your 
holy  word  to  indulge  in  immodest  thoughts  ! ” 
and  he  left  the  church,  the  people  following 
him.  When  he  came  to  a hill  he  went  up  and 
stood  on  the  summit,  and  cried  out : “ Seeing 
that  men  harden  their  hearts  so  far  as  to  reject 
the  word  of  God,  In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
my  Saviour,  birds  of  heaven  come  and  listen 
to  it ! ” Thousands  of  birds  answered  his  call ; 
they  surrounded  the  holy  preacher,  and  hush- 
ing their  songs  seemed  as  if  listening  intently 
to  him.  For  some  time  he  poured  out  a 
stream  of  inpassioned  eloquence,  the  birds  and 
the  astounded  people  breathlessly  listening  to 
him,  until  he  dismissed  them  both  with  his 
blessing. 

He  was  again  elected  Provincial  in  1255,  but 


Blessed  Nicolas  Pale  a of  Giovanazzo.  145 

died  the  same  year  in  the  monastery  he  had 
founded  in  Perugia.  True  to  his  vocation  as 
a son  of  Saint  Dominic,  he  was  very  devout  to 
the  holy  Virgin  Mary;  and  she,  true  to  her 
office  of  special  protector  of  the  Dominican 
order  watched  over  him  in  life  and  favored 
him  at  the  hour  of  death.  A Dominican 
father  named  Rao,  who  had  been  dead  some 
time,  appeared  to  him  in  a vision*.  “ He 
appeared,”  says  Father  Gerard  de  Frachet  in 
the  “Vitae  Fratrum,”  to  Blessed  Nicolas, 
Prior  Provincial  of  the  Roman  Province  and 
said  to  him;  “ Dearest  Brother  Nicolas,  the 
Virgin  Mary  counsels  you  to  prepare  yourself, 
because  a crown  of  glory  is  now  ready  for 
you.”  Blessed  Nicolas  at  once  told  his  vision 
to  his  most  intimate  fellow  religious,  and  a few 
days  afterwards  died  a most  holy  and  religious 
death.  It  was  in  the  year  1265.  He  was 
sixty-eight  years  of  age.  He  was  buried  in 
the  old  church,  and  for  a long  time  his  body 
reposed  beneath  an  altar  erected  in  his  honor ; 
until,  during  some  repairs  made  to  the  build- 
ing it  was  removed  to  the  High  Altar.  The 
miracles  obtained  by  invoking  his  intercession, 
and  continual  cultus  paid  to  him  led  to  a 


146  Blessed  Nicolas  Palea  of  Giovanazzo, 

formal  approbation  by  Pope  Leo  XII.  in 
1828. 

Prayer, 

Ant.  The  Lord  mercifully  heard  his  saint 
when  he  called  upon  Him  ; the  Lord  merci- 
fully heard  him  and  established  him  in  peace. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O blessed  Nicolas. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

Mercifully  infuse  into  us,  O God,  the  spirit 
of  Blessed  Nicolas  Thy  confessor,  that  as  Thou 
didst  adorn  him  with  singular  grace  for  preach- 
ing Thy  Word  and  procuring  the  salvation  of 
his  neighbor,  so  Thou  would’t  grant  us 
through  his  prayers  even  to  remain  in  the 
same  holy  vocation.  Through  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  LAURENCE  OF  RIPA- 
FRATTA. 


7 


J 


BLESSED  LAURENCE  OF  RIPA- 
FRATTA. 

FEBRUARY  1 8. 

In  the  middle  ages  the  Republic  of  Pisa  owed 
much  of  its  safety  and  protection  from  the 
attacks  of  the  Florentines  and  the  citizens  of 
Lucca,  to  the  fortified  castle  of  Ripafratta, 
built  on  the  summit  of  a hill,  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Pisano.  At  the  present  day,  although 
in  ruins,  it  still  preserves  a threatening  appear- 
ance, and  seems  to  lord  it  over  the  small  town 
of  some  six  hundred  inhabitants  nestling 
beneath  its  foundations.  It  was  in  Ripafratta, 
March  4th,  1359,  that  Blessed  Laurence  was 
born.  He  belonged  to  the  illustrious  family  of 
the  Nobili,  which  later  on  produced  the 
Ronciori,  whose  descendants  still  exist  in  the 
city  of  Pisa. 

He  was  preserved  in  his  youth  by  the  grace 
of  God  from  those  sins  which  ruin  so  many 
youthful  souls.  It  seems  probable  that  he 


1 50  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta. 

went  to  study  at  Pisa  with  the  intention  of 
giving  himself  to  the  service  of  God  in  the 
religious  state.  He  entered  the  Dominican 
Order,  being  then  in  Deacon’s  orders,  about 
the  year  1379,  in  the  Monastery  of  Saint 
Catherine,  in  that  city.  He  was  about  thirty- 
eight  years  of  age.  His  novice-master  was  a 
holy  and  learned  man  eminently  qualified  to 
direct  him  in  the  ways  of  perfection. 

At  this  time  Blessed  John  Dominic,  a cele- 
brated Dominican  preacher,  came  to  Pisa. 
His  renown  was  so  great,  that  when  St. 
Vincent  Ferrer  was  invited  by  the  Florentines 
to  evangelize  Tuscany,  he  expressed  his  aston- 
ishment that  they  should  seek  elsewhere  for  a 
preacher  when  they  possessed  so  great  a one  as 
Blessed  John  Dominic.  His  eloquent  sermons 
had  a great  effect  on  his  hearers,  but  especially 
on  young  men,  many  of  whom,  despising  the 
honors  and  pleasures  of  this  present  life, 
abandoned  the  world  to  enter  the  cloister.  So 
that,  like  Blessed  Jordan  of  Saxony,  he  became 
the  terror  of  selfish  mothers,  who  fearing  to 
lose  their  sons  forbade  them  to  go  to  his 
sermons.  For  some  time  he  had  been  labor- 
ing to  effect  a reform  in  the  Dominican  order. 


Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta,  15 1 

It  will  be  well  to  explain  here,  in  a few  words, 
why  it  had  become  necessary  to  institute  such 
a reform.  The  plague  of  1348  which  had 
ravaged  Europe  had  almost  depopulated  the 
Italian  monasteries.  A schism  had  also 
desolated  the  church,  and  divided  the  mem- 
bers of  the  religious  orders  into  antagonistic 
bodies,  throwing  everything  into  fearful  con- 
fusion. One  of  these  causes  alone  would  have 
been  sufficient  to  ruin  the  most  fervent  relig- 
ious order  ; united  they  almost  destroyed  the 
religious  life.  But  God  in  His  mercy,  did  not 
abandon  the  monastic  institutions,  and  raised 
up  many  chosen  souls  to  repair  the  ruins  made 
by  the  plague  and  schism. 

St.  Catherine  of  Sienna  had  excited  in  the 
heart  of  her  confessor.  Blessed  Raymund  of 
Capua,  an  ardent  desire  to  reform  the  Domin- 
ican order,  which  had  suffered  like  the  rest. 
As  soon  as  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
order,  he  made  a powerful  appeal  to  all  who 
loved  God  and  the  order  they  had  embraced. 
He  obtained  a noble  response.  Numbers  of 
saintly  men  appeared  in  the  order,  and 
labored  zealously  and  successfully  for  its  revi- 
val on  principles  of  primitive  observance. 


152  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta. 

In  Germany  there  was  the  Venerable  Con- 
rad of  Prussia,  and  in  Italy  Blessed  John 
Dominic,  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta,  and 
many  others  no  less  holy  than  zealous.  Blessed 
Clara  Gambacorti  reformed  her  own  monastery 
in  Pisa,  and  sent  out  sisters  to  do  the  same 
work  in  Genoa,  Parma,and  Venice. 

Blessed  John  Dominic,  meeting  with  a very 
strong  opposition  in  the  monasteries  of  Flor- 
ence and  Pisa,  began  by  reforming  that  of  St. 
Dominic  in  Venice.  From  that  community  the 
reform  spread  to  the  large  monastery  of  Saints 
John  and  Paul  in  the  same  city,  and  to  St. 
Dominic’s  in  Citta  di  Castello,  in  Umbria.  In 
the  latter  monastery  he  was  materially  assisted 
by  Blessed  Laurence.  Blessed  John  Dominic 
soon  learnt  what  a valuable  coadjutor  he  had 
found  in  Laurence  of  Ripafratta.  Every  one 
acknowledged  his  holiness.  To  a life  of  an- 
gelic purity,  he  added  a very  rigid  austerity,  a 
burning  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  an 
inviolable  regularity  and  fidelity  in  observing 
the  rule  of  the  order.  To  all  these  virtues  was 
joined  so  deep  an  acquaintance  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  so  profound  a perception  of 
their  meaning,  that  he  merited  the  name  of 


Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta,  153 

“Ark  of  the  New  Testament;”  a name  also 
given  to  Saint  Antony  of  Padua. 

Blessed  John  Dominic  saw  quickly  that  in 
order  to  insure  the  continuance  of  his  reform, 
it  was  necessary  to  form  a good  novitiate. 
He  intended  to  confide  the  important  but 
difficult  office  of  Novice  Master  to  Father 
Michael  Tosi,  a young  Pisan  whom  he  had 
converted  from  a life  of  licentiousness  to  the 
service  of  Christ.  But  this  father  died  in  the 
flower  of  his  age,  a victim  to  the  charity  with 
which  he  nursed  the  brothers  sick  of  the 
plague.  He  then  chose  Blessed  Laurence  of 
Ripafratta,  who  was  eminently  fitted  for  that 
office. 

The  novitiate  was  established  at  Cortona  on 
the  borders  of  Tuscany,  in  the  midst  of  a fertile 
country,  under  a delightful  sky.  This  was  an 
admirable  situation  for  the  spiritual  exercises 
of  the  novitiate.  Soon  after  this  had  been 
done.  Blessed  John  Dominic  was  made  Arch- 
bishop of  Ragusa  and  eventually  raised  to  the 
Cardinalate.  Blessed  Laurence  became  Novice 
Master  between  1402  and  1405.  Among  his 
novices  were  several  who  have  left  their  mark 
on  the  footprints  of  time.  In  1405  a young 


154  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta. 

Florentine,  bearing  the  warmest  recommenda- 
tions from  Blessed  John  Dominic,  knocked  at 
the  monastery  gate,  and  falling  at  Blessed 
Laurence’s  feet,  begged  to  be  admitted  as  a 
choir  novice.  It  was  Saint  Antoninus  of 
Florence,  hardly  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  followed  soon  after  by  Blessed  Peter 
Capucci,  who  having  received  the  habit  in 
Citta  di  Gastello,  his  native  town,  went  to 
Cortona  to  place  himself  under  the  direction  of 
the  holy  novice  master.  In  the  year  1407  two 
artists,  from  Mugello,  joined  the  novitiate. 
They  were  Fra  Angelico  and  his  brother  P'ra 
Benedetto.  In  the  direction  of  his  novices 
Blessed  Laurence  showed  marvellous  tact.  He 
trained  them  in  the  path  of  mortification,  avoid- 
ing that  excess  of  sweetness  and  indulgence  by 
which  so  many  young  souls  are  ruined  ; while  at 
the  same  time  he  restrained  them  from  the  fervid 
excitement  which  is  so  apt  to  deceive  beginners 
in  the  paths  of  perfection,  and  by  which  so  many 
undermine  their  health,  and  condemn  them- 
selves by  indiscreet  penance  to  a life  of  useless- 
ness. Thus,  although  his  own  life  was  peniten- 
tial, he  softened  the  austerities  of  the  rule  as 
much  as  lay  in  his  power,  without  destroying 


Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripaf rat ta,  155 

discipline  or  departing  from  the  spirit  and  aim 
of  the  order.  By  means  of  frequent  spiritual 
instructions  he  fanned  the  flames  of  divine  love 
in  the  novices’  hearts.  Another  quality  in 
Blessed  Laurence,  worthy  of  the  highest 
praise,  was  the  wisdom  with  which  he  under- 
stood and  cherished  the  special  vocation  of  each 
of  his  novices.  While  he  never  allowed  them  to 
lose  sight  of  the  chief  end  of  the  order,  pen- 
ance and  zeal,  he  seconded  them  in  the  full 
development  of  each  one^s  peculiar  talents 
To  Blessed  Peter,  whose  inclinations  sympa- 
thized with  his  own,  he  opened  the  ways  of 
contemplation.  To  Saint  Antoninus  he  coun- 
selled the  investigation  of  the  infinite  field  of 
science,  human  and  divine.  He  allowed  Fra 
Angelico  and  Fra  Benedetto  to  devote  their 
talents  to  painting,  but  revealed  to  them 
heavenly  models  to  guide  their  artistic  inspira- 
tions. “ Dear  Brothers,”  he  often  said  to  them, 
“ I beseech  you  to  whom  God  has  not  given 
the  gift  of  knowledge,  to  follow  the  career  of 
painting,  in  which  you  will  be  none  the  less 
true  Friar  Preachers.  For  it  is  not  only  by 
words  that  we  persuade  men  to  love  virtue  and 
flee  from  vice,  it  is  also  by  the  example  of  a 


156  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta. 

stainless  life,  and  by  the  arts  which  are  the 
outward  expression  of  men’s  inward  thoughts  ; 
sublime  arts,  among  which  music  and  painting 
hold  the  first  place.  It  will  undoubtedly  come 
to  pass  that  many  sinners,  whom  the  preaching 
of  the  Fathers  of  our  order  will  not  influence, 
touched  by  looking  at  the  pictures  you  place 
before  their  eyes,  will  be  converted.  You 
have  an  advantage  of  which  the  preacher  is 
deprived.  Words  cannot  reach  those  who  are 
afar  olT,  and  the  most  eloquent  voice  can- 
not speak  from  the  tomb  to  the  sinner. 
But  your  heavenly  pictures  will  have  an  im- 
mortal influence,  for  centuries  they  will  re- 
main as  efficacious  preachers  of  religion  and 
virtue.” 

We  do  not  know  how  long  the  happy  disci- 
ples remained  under  Blessed  Laurence’s  direc- 
tion. During  his  long  residence  in  Cortona, 
he  was  often  sent  to  preach  in  the  neighboring 
towns  and  villages.  The  word  of  God  fell 
from  his  pure  lips  like  it  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  Apostles  and  prophets.  St.  Anto- 
ninus, more  than  once  in  his  works  ex- 
pressed his  admiration  for  Blessed  Lau- 
rence’s preaching,  and  does  not  hesitate  to 


Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta.  15/ 

compare  him  with  St.  Paul  the  Apostle  of 
preaching. 

But  the  great  virtue  and  prudence  which 
characterized  Blessed  Laurence  could  not 
remain  always  buried  in  obscurity.  He  was 
appointed  Vicar  General  of  the  reformed 
Congregation,  he  had  so  faithfully  served.  In 
the  new  sphere  of  usefulness  in  which  he  now 
found  himself,  he  manifested  new  gifts  of 
prudence.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
Monastery  of  Saint  Dominic  at  Pistoria.  He 
was  now  much  more  free  to  attend  to  the 
ministry  of  souls.  He  preached  continuously, 
catechized  the  poor  in  the  country  places,  vis- 
ited and  consoled  the  sick,  particularly  those 
stricken  down  by  the  plague,  and  abandoned 
by  their  relations  and  friends. 

H is  former  novice,  Saint  Antoninus,  having 
been  raised  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Flor- 
ence, he  frequently  consulted  Blessed  Lau- 
rence in  all  his  difficulties  and  trials.  Saint 
Antoninus  was  very  unwilling  to  accept  so 
exalted  a dignity,  one  which  brought  with  it 
such  an  alarming  responsibility.  Neither  the 
supplications  of  the  Magistrates  of  Florence, 
nor  the  well-known  wishes  of  the  Pope 


158  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta, 

could  persuade  him  to  give  his  consent.  But 
when  Blessed  Laurence  told  him  it  was  God’s 
holy  will  he  withdrew  all  opposition  and  was 
consecrated  Archbishop.  What  St.  Bernard 
did  for  Pope  Eugcnius  the  Third,  Blessed 
Laurence  now  did  for  St.  Antoninus  of  Flor- 
ence. He  wrote  frequent  letters  to  his  former 
novice,  full  of  heavenly  wisdom,  instructing 
him  on  the  office  and  duties  of  a Christian 
Bishop.  He  descended  to  the  smallest  details, 
the  management  of  his  episcopal  palace,  and 
such  like.  He  knew  that  the  households  of 
the  great  are  too  frequently  little  regulated, 
and  advised  him  to  watch  over  all  under  his 
care,  so  that  no  scandals  could  arise.  He 
advised  him  not  to  allow  women  or  children  in 
his  palace  except  in  case  of  necessity. 

Blessed  Laurence  was  now  near  his  hun- 
dredth year.  Exhausted  by  a laborious  and 
penitential  life,  he  also  suffered  much  from  an 
ulcer  in  his  leg.  But  he  enjoyed  the  rare  hap- 
piness of  seeing  so  many  of  his  novices  orna- 
ments to  the  church  and  to  the  Dominican 
Order.  Three  of  his  novices  have  been  placed 
on  our  altars,  by  the  infallible  voice  of  the 
church,  and  many  others  who  did  not  receive 


Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta,  159 

that  honor,  have  left  behind  them  an  eternal 
renown.  Another  great  happiness  granted  him 
was  to  see  the  reform  of  the  order  blessed  by 
God  and  extended  to  all  parts  of  Italy. 

H is  death  was  like  his  life.  When  his  end 
drew  near  he  received  the  sacraments  of  holy 
church  with  great  piety,  and  then,  turning 
towards  his  Brethren,  he  exhorted  them  to 
labor  unceasingly  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
and  to  keep  the  Dominican  rule  faithfully,  to 
become  models  of  holiness  in  their  own  persons; 
so  that  the  people,  seeing  the  holiness  of  their 
lives,  might  be  encouraged  to  walk  in  the 
paths  of  virtue.  He  died  in  the  Lord, 
September  28,  1457,  aged  ninety-eight. 

It  was  not  long  before  God  made  his  sanctity 
certain  by  many  miracles  at  his  tomb ; but  he 
was  not  beatified  until  the  year  1851. 

Prayer, 

Ant.  Planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  in  the 
courts  of  the  house  of  our  God,  he  shall  spring 
up  like  a lily,  and  shall  flourish  forever  before 
the  Lord. 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Laurence. 


i6o  Blessed  Laurence  of  Ripafratta. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

O God,  who  madest  Blessed  .Laurence,  Thy 
confessor,  to  shine  forth  with  zeal  for  regular 
discipline,  and  didst  inflame  him  with  the 
ardors  of  divine  love,  grant  at  his  intercession, 
that  ever  following  after  the  more  perfect 
ways,  we  may  attain  to  everlasting  joys. 
Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  ALVAREZ  OF  CORDOVA. 


BLESSED  ALVAREZ  OF  CORDOVA. 


FEBRUARY  IQ. 

The  historians  of  the  Dominican  Order  do 
not  agree  on  the  place  where  Blessed  Alvarez 
was  born,  whether  it  was  in  Lisbon  or  Cordova, 
in  which  latter  city  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  All  assert,  however,  that  he  was 
of  noble  family.  He  entered  the  order  in  the 
monastery  of  St.  Paul  in  Cordova,  in  the 
year  1368.  Having  sanctified  himself  during 
his  novitiate  by  penance  and  prayer  he  be- 
gan his  ministry  with  wonderful  success, 
and  soon  converted  numbers  of  sinners  from 
an  evil  life.  He  evangelized  Andalusia,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  great  Dominican  preacher 
and  miracle-worker,  St.  Vincent  Ferrer,  was 
in  the  midst  of  his  labors  in  Castile.  From 
Spain  Blessed  Alvarez  went  into  Italy,  and 
preached  there  with  success  equal  to  that  he 
obtained  in  his  native  land. 

We  next  hear  of  him  in  Palestine,  occupied 


164  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

in  the  same  labor  of  the  conversion  of  sinners. 
His  deep  devotion  to  the  Passion  of  Our 
Divine  Lord  caused  him  to  remain  a long 
time  in  the  Holy  Land.  His  love  for  preach- 
ing found  ample  scope  in  Palestine,  peopled  as 
it  was  with  Turks,  Schismatics,  and  bad 
Catholics  from  every  land  ; and  the  sadness  of 
his  heart  at  the  sight  of  so  much  sin  on  the 
very  site  of  the  redemption  of  mankind  caused 
him  to  shed  bitter  tears  of  grief  and  indig- 
nation. In  1405  he  returned  to  Spain,  and 
found  his  native  land  on  the  eve  o^  a struggle 
with  the  Moors.  The  Moorish  King  of  Gra- 
nada had  refused  to  pay  tribute  to  the  King 
of  Castile,  to  which  he  was  bound  by  ancient 
treaties,  and  having  taken  forcible  possession 
of  the  town  of  Ayamonte  was  busily  preparing 
for  new  conquests.  Don  Henry  IL,  King  of 
of  Castile,  protested  in  vain  against  the  infrac- 
tion of  the  treaties  and  could  obtain  no 
satisfaction. 

Blessed  Alvarez  went  about  preaching 
penance,  and  endeavored  to  impress  on  the 
people’s  mind  that  the  victory  of  the  Christians 
over  the  Moors  depended  on  a change  of 
manners  among  themselves.  The  fame  his 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova.  165 

holiness  had  acquired,  the  eloquence  of  his 
sermons,  and  his  patriotic  appeals  made  a 
vivid  impression  on  their  souls,  and  in  a short 
time  a truly  marvellous  change  was  seen  in 
Andalusia.  He  constantly  reminded  them 
that  when  the  Spanish  people  were  faithful  to 
God  and  to  the  duties  of  religion,  they  had 
always  conquered  their  enemies  ; but  that  God 
had  delivered  them  up  to  the  horrors  of  war, 
famine,  and  the  disgraceful  yoke  of  their 
enemies  when  they  had  abandoned  themselves 
to  the  gratification  of  their  passions,  despising 
the  teachings  of  their  holy  religion. 

Don  Henry,  finding  himself  forced  into  a 
war  with  the  Moors,  convoked  the  Cortes  at 
Toledo,  that  he  might  consult  the  Grandees 
of  his  kingdom  as  to  the  best  means  of  carry- 
ing it  out  with  success.  In  answer  to  his 
appeal  they  assembled  at  Toledo  from  all 
parts  in  great  numbers ; but  they  arrived  in 
time  only  to  celebrate  his  funeral,  for  the 
young  king  died  on  Christmas  day,  1406. 

His  death  left  the  kingdom  in  danger  from 
enemies  without  and  factions  within.  The 
Grandees  endeavored  to  crown  the  late  king’s 
brother,  Don  Ferdinand,  putting  aside  the 


1 66  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

3^oung  Prince  Juan,  son  of  Don  Henry. 
Queen  Catherine,  the  late  king’s  widow 
begged  Blessed  Alvarez  to  come  to  her  aid,  to 
secure  her  son’s  rights  and  thus  insure  peace  to 
the  kingdom.  He  acceded  to  her  wishes,  and 
employed  all  his  remarkable  talents  of  persua- 
sion to  inspire  the  Grandees  with  the  sole 
desire  of  securing  the  good  of  the  kingdom, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  suggest  to  the  queen  a 
spirit  of  moderation.  God  blessed  his  efforts. 
The  baby-prince,  Don  Juan  II.,  was  pro- 
claimed King  of  Castile,  and  the  regency 
divided  between  Queen  Catherine  and  Don 
Ferdinand.  Blessed  Alvarez  became  the 
queen’s  confessor  and  adviser,  and  in  this 
double  office  acquitted  himself  with  universal 
satisfaction,  and  when  the  young  prince  was 
old  enough  to  receive  advice  he  labored  to 
instil  into  his  mind  solid  principles  of  religion, 
morality  and  justice,  and  taught  him  to  be  a 
true  father  to  his  people  and  the  supporter 
and  defender  of  the  church. 

As  soon  as  Castile  was  at  peace  within,  the 
war  against  the  Moors  was  undertaken,  and 
crowned  with  success.  All  the  towns  which 
had  been  captured  by  the  Moors  were  re- 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  167 

gained,  and  the  baneful  power  of  the  Mussul- 
man effectually  checked. 

Blessed  Alvarez  also  worked  a great  refor- 
mation in  the  morality  of  the  court  and 
courtiers.  His  holy  and  self-denying  life  was 
a silent  lesson  to  those  nobles,  who,  as  is 
usual  in  the  courts  of  princes,  loved  the 
pleasures  of  this  life  and  the  pomp  of  earthly 
power  more  than  they  loved  God.  Respecting 
him  on  account  of  his  genuine  and  unfeigned 
virtues,  they  soon  learned  to  restrain  their 
inordinate  pride,  and  to  practise  all  the  virtues 
of  true  Christians.  But  the  peace  of  the  king- 
dom was  again  disturbed,  and  this  time  Blessed 
Alvarez  was  powerless  to  avert  the  dissensions 
which  arose.  The  regency  was  divided,  Old 
Castile  was  given  to  the  queen,  while  Don 
Ferdinand  took  charge  of  New  Castile. 
Blessed  Alvarez  now  found  himself  much 
freer  than  before;  he  was  no  longer  obliged  to 
remain  at  court,  and  was  enabled  to  resume 
the  work  of  preaching  so  long  interrupted. 
He  set  out  to  preach,  and  visited  eveiy  part 
of  Old  Castile  and  Leon,  everywhere  doing 
grand  work  for  souls. 

Three  years  after  the  division  of  the  regency 


1 68  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova. 

Don  Ferdinand  became  King  of  Aragon,  an« 
Queen  Catherine  obtained  the  sole  regency  in 
Castile. 

She  earnestly  requested  Blessed  Alvarez  to 
assist  her  in  governing  the  country  by  his  wise 
advice,  but  he  begged  to  be  entirely  free  to 
practise  the  studies  of  his  holy  ministry.  He 
had  long  formed  the  intention  of  founding  a 
community  of  primitive  observance  of  the 
Dominican  Rule.  If  he  wished  he  could  have 
built  a magnificent  monastery  and  amply 
endowed  it : for  the  queen  and  Castilian 
nobles  would  readily  have  furnished  him  with 
the  necessary  means.  A true  disciple  of  St. 
Dominic,  he  chose  rather  to  begin  in  the 
strictest  poverty,  and  desired  to  build  a 
monastery  such  as  St.  Dominic  himself  would 
have  built.  Wishing  to  make  it  a true  home 
of  prayer,  retirement,  and  study,  he  chose  a 
a solitary  site,  far  enough  from  the  haunts  of 
men  not  to  be  disturbed,  and  yet  sufficiently 
near  to  a large  town  to  carry  out  the  Domini- 
can vocation  of  preaching.  The  site  selected 
was  on  a mountain  a few  miles  from  Cordova. 
He  called  it  “ Scala  Coeli,''  or  the  “Ladder  of 
Heaven,”  to  remind  those  who  dwelt  in  it 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  169 

that  Heaven  should  be  the  sole  wish  of  their 
hearts,  and  that  all  their  studies  and  monastic 
duties  were  only  to  be  the  means  of  attaining 
that  eternal  bliss. 

The  new  monastery  was  soon  filled.  Many 
Fathers  came  to  him  from  all  parts  of  Spain, 
desiring  to  be  taught  by  him  the  secrets  of 
perfection.  They  were  all  filled  with  his  own 
spirit,  and  Scala  Coeli  soon  became  famous  as  a 
seminary  of  sanctity,  learning,  and  piety ; and 
the  holy  missionaries  it  sent  forth  did  much 
for  the  honor  and  glory  of  God  and  the  con- 
version of  sinners. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  service  rendered 
by  this  monastery  to  the  church  was  the  part 
the  Fathers  took  in  reuniting  the  people  in 
obedience  to  the  authority  of  the  legitimate 
Pope.  In  fighting  against  the  Anti-Pope 
Peter  de  Luna,  Blessed  Alvarez  knew  that 
he  had  to  encounter  the  influence  of  many  of 
the  powerful  of  this  world,  and  that  money 
and  authority  would  be  employed  against  him. 
He  foresaw  the  difficulties  wliich  he  and  his 
newly  founded  community  would  have  to  face, 
and  yet  he  did  not  flinch,  because  he  saw 
that  it  was  his  duty.  St.  Vincent  Ferrer, 


170  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova. 

his  fellow-Dominican,  on  withdrawing  from 
obedience  to  Peter  de  Luna,  had  caused  the 
King  of  Aragon  to  submit  to  the  decrees  of 
the  Council  of  Constance,  and  to  the  authority 
of  Martin  V.,  who  was  elected  by  the  Fathers 
of  that  council.  Blessed  Alvarez,  animated 
with  the  same  zeal  for  the  peace  of  the  church, 
resolved  to  lead  the  court  of  Castile  to  follow 
the  example  of  the  King  of  Aragon.  Every- 
thing was  against  him.  Passion,  intrigue 
prejudice,  interest,  and  the  Grandees,  all  were, 
at  first  arrayed  on  the  side  of  the  Anti-Pope. 

Queen  Catherine  of  Castile  had  sent  ambas- 
sadors to  the  Council  of  Constance,  and  having 
consented  to  abandon  Peter  de  Luna  she  sent 
a second  embassy  of  Bishops,  which  took 
away  the  last  obstacle  to  the  peace  of  the 
Church. 

The  queen  died  soon  after  this  happy  event. 
Thus  the  influence  which  Blessed  Alvarez 
always  possessed  over  the  queen,  his  fervent 
prayers  and  fasts  and  continual  preaching  led 
the  Kingdom  of  Castile  to  acknowledge  the 
true  Vicar  of  Christ. 

After  this  happy  event  Blessed  Alvarez,  in- 
stead of  taking  repose,  which  his  labors  and 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  171 

now  advanced  age  merited  him,  again  entered 
with  new  ardor  into  the  work  of  preaching. 
Catechising,  instructing  the  poor  and  ignorant, 
healing  the  sick,  consoling  the  afflicted,  destroy- 
ing superstitions,  reconciling  enemies, — such 
were  the  holy  occupations  to  which  he  again 
gave  himself,  and  which  he  continued  until  the 
end  of  his  life  ; and  to  these  already  sufficiently 
arduous  labors  he  added  many  severe  penances 
and  spent  many  hours  in  prayer.  After  pass- 
ing the  whole  day  in  preaching  and  administer- 
ing the  sacraments  in  the  Andalusian  moun- 
tains, he  returned  to  his  beloved  monastery  of 
Scala  Coeli,  where  he  spent  nearly  the  whole 
night  in  prayer  at  the  foot  of  the  altar,  knock- 
ing unceasingly  at  the  door  of  Divine  Mercy  to 
obtain  new  graces  to  enable  him  to  continue 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  Clothed  in  hair- 
cloth, with  an  iron  chain  around  his  loins,  he 
subjected  his  body  to  the  law  of  the  spirit,  and 
obtained  a continued  victory  over  all  his  pas- 
sions ; and  in  proportion  as  his  age  and  labors 
continued  he  lengthened  his  nightly  watches, 
and  his  fasts  became  more  frequent  and  severe. 
He  had  blotted  out  his  high  rank  from  his 
memory,  and  delighted  in  serving  the  lowliest 


172  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

members  of  the  community.  He  and  his 
brethren  lived  on  alms.  It  was  his  deli£fbt  to 
go  out  and  beg.  He  often  went  into  the  great 
square  of  Cordova,  when  the  merchants  were 
met  together  for  commerce,  and  there  he 
would  address  them,  and  conclude  his  dis- 
course with  these  words:  “ My  dear  Brethren, 
the  poor  friars  of  St.  Dominic  in  the  moun- 
tain recommend  themselves  to  your  charity,” 
and  he  always  succeeded  in  his  appeal. 

God  sometimes  allowed  the  community  to 
be  reduced  to  great  necessity,  that  he  might 
show  how  dear  to  him  were  the  virtues  of  his 
servant  Alvarez.  One  day  there  was  not  a 
crumb  of  bread  or  food  of  any  kind  in  the 
monastery.  The  Procurator  went  to  the  Prior 
and  told  him  there  was  only  a lettuce,  which 
remained  from  the  evening  meal  of  the  day  be- 
fore. Blessed  Alvarez  exhorted  the  fathers  and 
brothers  to  trust  in  God,  and  to  go  to  the  refec- 
tory when  the  dinner  bell  rang,  although  there 
was  nothing  to  serve.  When  the  time  came 
he  gave  the  customary  blessing,  and  then  be- 
gan to  pray  God  to  have  pity  on  his  servants 
reduced  to  so  great  need.  And  while  he  prayed 
the  monastery  bell  rang,  and  the  porter  found 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova.  173 

a man  there  with  a mule  laden  with  provisions, 
bread,  wine,  fish,  and  all  manner  of  food.  He 
ran  to  tell  the  Prior,  who  bade  him  thank  their 
benefactor;  but  on  the  brother’s  return  he  had 
gone,  and  they  were  never  able  to  learn  who 
had  sent  the  provisions. 

When  building  the  monastery  of  Scala  Coeli 
materials  several  times  failed.  Blessed  Alva- 
rez began  to  pray,  and  during  the  night  a great 
noise  was  heard,  as  if  stone  was  being  cut  and 
wood  sawed.  In  the  morning  everything  was 
found  on  the  ground  prepared  for  building,  and 
it  was  never  discovered  who  had  set  it  there  or 
whence  it  had  come. 

One  day,  as  Blessed  Alvarez  was  passing 
through  the  principal  street  of  Cordova,  on  his 
way  home  after  preaching,  he  found  a poor 
man  covered  with  ulcers  in  a dying  condition. 
With  his  cloak  he  covered  the  man,  and  carried 
him  on  his  shoulders  to  the  monastery.  As  he 
was  passing  through  the  cloisters  one  of  the 
Fathers  asked  him  what  load  he  bore.  He  an- 
swered, “ It  is  a poor  dying  man  I found  in 
the  street  abandoned  by  all.  I brought  him 
here  to  take  care  of  him  ; my  heart  would  not 
let  me  leave  him  there  in  that  condition,” 


174  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

He  laid  his  burden  on  the  floor  and  uncovered 
it,  and  behold  they  saw  not  a man  but  a figure 
of  Christ  on  the  cross.  This  crucifix  was  after- 
wards hung  in  one  of  the  chapels  of  the  mon- 
astery church,  where  it  is  still  an  object  of  uni- 
versal devotion. 

His  penances,  always  severe,  became  more 
so  as  his  life  drew  near  to  an  end.  He  disci- 
plined himself  to  blood,  and  undertook  a pen- 
ance very  hard  to  practise.  He  often  walked 
on  his  knees,  disciplining  himself  all  the  while 
to  a chapel  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  of 
Pity.  The  road  was  rocky,  and  the  angels  of 
God  frequently  accompanied  him,  clearing 
away  the  little  rocks  and  upholding  him  by  the 
arms.  After  his  death,  the  Fathers  who  had 
been  privileged  to  see  these  heavenly  favors, 
caused  a picture  to  be  painted  representing  the 
holy  man  kneeling,  his  bared  shoulders  welted 
with  the  cruel  discipline  and  attended  by  an- 
gels who  knelt  all  around  him.  This  picture 
is  still  to  be  seen  at  Cordova.  The  great  devo- 
tion to  the  Passion  of  our  Divine  Lord  which 
had  led  him  to  visit  the  Holy  Land,  also  in- 
spired him  to  build  several  small  chapels  in 
the  monastery  of  Scala  Coeli,  in  which  he 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  175 

caused  the  different  scenes  in  the  Passion  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  painted.  In  the  first  was 
the  Agony  in  the  Garden  of  Olives;  in  the 
second,  Judas  betraying  Our  Lord,  kissing  Him 
with  a traitor’s  kiss ; in  the  third,  the  bloody 
flagellation  at  the  pillar ; in  the  fourth  the 
crowning  with  thorns ; the  Ecce  Homo  in 
the  fifth;  in  the  next  Jesus  carrying  His  cross 
to  Calvary;  in  the  seventh  the  crucifixion  and 
in  the  last  the  dead  Christ  in  the  arms  of  His 
sorrowful  mother. 

This  last  chapel  was  called  Our  Lady  of 
Pity,  and  this  was  his  favorite  place  for  prayer 
and  penance.  One  evening,  when  he  had  shut 
himself  up  in  one  of  these  chapels,  the  rain 
came  down  in  such  torrents,  that  a little  brook 
which  divided  the  garden  from  the  monastery, 
had  become  so  swollen  that  he  could  not 
cross  it.  The  bell  rang  for  Matins,  the 
midnight  office  in  the  choir;  what  could 
he  do? 

He  raised  his  eyes  to  God,  took  off  his  black 
cloak,  spread  it  on  the  running  waters,  stepped 
upon  it  and  safely  walked  to  the  other  side ; 
then  he  put  it  on  again  and  went  to  Matins  in 
the  choir. 


176  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

He  was  several  times  endowed  with  the  gift 
of  prophecy. 

A holy  life  was  crowned  by  a holy  death. 
He  died  February  19,  1420.  He  was  buried 
in  the  monastery  church,  but  the  miracles 
which  were  wrought  every  day  at  his  tomb 
caused  Martin  de  Mendoza,  Bishop  of  Cordova, 
to  enshrine  his  relics  in  a costly  case,  and  place 
them  in  a chapel  where  they  could  be  easily 
approached.  Ecclesiastics  of  all  ranks  went 
there  to  say  Mass,  and  many  of  them  deposed 
that  delicious  perfumes  exhaled  from  the  holy 
relics.  An  authentic  record  of  all  the  miracles 
was  written  and  received  the  Bishop’s  ap- 
proval. 

The  Fathers  of  our  order  remained  in  the 
monastery  of  Scala  Coeli  until  John  of  Toledo, 
a Dominican  Bishop  of  Cordova,  gave  them  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Martyrs,  in  his  diocesan- 
city.  As  soon  as  they  had  established  them- 
selves in  their  new  monastery  they  set  about 
to  transfer  the  relics  of  Blessed  Alvarez  into 
their  new  church  ; but  when  the  two  Priors  of 
St.  Paul’s  and  the  Holy  Martyrs,  accompanied 
by  a crowd  of  pious  people,  went  to  the  Church 
of  Scala  Coeli,  and  attempted  to  carry  away  the 


Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova,  177 

coffer  in  which  the  body  reposed,  a thunder- 
storm burst  forth,  and  they  replaced  it  on  the 
altar  and  then  the  storm  immediately  ceased. 
It  burst  forth  again  on  their  endeavoring  a sec- 
ond time  to  remove  the  relics.  Every  one 
deemed  it  to  be  the  will  of  Heaven  and  of  the 
holy  rrian  himself  that  his  body  should  remain 
in  the  church  of  the  monastery  he  had  founded 
and  had  so  dearly  loved. 

Desolate  for  nearly  a century,  Scala  Cceli 
was  restored  by  the  celebrated  Dominican 
Father  Lewis  of  Granada,  and  once  more  the 
divine  worship  of  praise  ascended  to  heaven 
from  the  long  deserted  church,  and  the  Friars 
of  St.  Dominic  again  meditated  in  the  clois- 
ters, and  observed  all  the  sweet  monastic  ob- 
servances in  the  monastery  Blessed  Alvarez 
had  built.  Then  took  place  a great  revival  of 
popular  devotion  to  Alvarez,  which  having 
continued.  Pope  Benedict  XIV.  approved  his 
cultus  in  1741. 


Prayer^ 

Ant.  O good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord. 


178  Blessed  Alvarez  of  Cordova, 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O blessed  Alvarez. 

R,  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  didst  endow  Blessed  Alvarez 
Thy  confessor  with  the  graces  of  penance  and 
divine  love,  grant  that  by  his  intercession  we 
may  ever  bear  the  mortification  of  Christ  in  our 
bodies,  and  Thy  love  in  our  hearts.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  AIMO  TAPARELLf. 


I 

.1 


III  f li  M rfii'i 


BLESSED  AIMO  TAPARELLL 

FEBRUARY  21. 

Many  saints  adorned  the  church  towards  the 
end  of  the  fourteenth  and  the  commencement 
of  the  fifteenth  centuries.  The  church  was 
passing  through  great  trials.  Numerous 
causes  had  led  to  a general  relaxation  in 
discipline  and  morals.  The  plague  which  had 
carried  away  so  many  of  the  priests  of  the 
church  had  worked  no  less  havoc  among  the 
members  of  the  religious  orders.  The  old 
laborers  were  dead,  and  the  few  who  yet 
remained  were  so  discouraged  by  the  difficul- 
ties they  encountered,  that  the  sacred  fire  of 
fervor  and  apostolic  zeal  was  smouldering  in 
its  ashes.  Yet  it  was  not  dead,  God  did  not 
abandon  His  church.  The  Queen  of  Confes- 
sors still  knelt  in  supplication  at  the  foot  of 
the  throne  of  mercy,  and  as  of  old,  in  times  of 
need,  a crowd  of  saints  began  to  fill  the 
Christian  church.  And  like  the  holy  Mother 


Blessed  Aimo  Taparellu 


182 

of  God,  the  apostolic  Dominic,  whose  preach- 
ing had  saved  the  church  two  hundred  years 
before  by  destroying  heresy,  rose  again  in  his 
miglit,  in  the  person  of  his  sons,  saved  the 
grand  order  he  had  founded,  and  once  more 
materially  aided  in  saving  the  church. 

Blessed  Aimo  is  little  known  at  the  present 
day,  and  the  records  of  his  life  are  but  scant. 
He  is  like  those  little  streams  which  flow  on 
forever,  a continual  source  of  sweet  verdure  to 
the  land  around,  but  whose  name  is  known  to 
none  but  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  hamlets 
through  which  they  pass.  He  is  no  less  a star 
in  Saint  Dominic’s  crown,  and  his  heroic  sanc- 
tity has  been  proclaimed  by  the  church. 

He  was  a native  of  Savigliano,  a town  of 
seventeen  thousand  inhabitants  in  Piedmont, 
and  was  born  in  the  castle  of  the  Count  of  Lag- 
nasco.  Piety  and  learning  were  instilled  into 
him  while  yet  a boy.  Though  gifted  with  an 
intelligent  mind,  and  possessing  a handsome 
face  he  avoided  all  the  snares  to  vanity.  Per- 
ceiving the  emptiness  of  human  delights  he 
yearned  for  the  happiness  of  heaven.  Seeing 
the  need  of  laborers  in  Christ's  vineyard,  he 
gave  himself  to  God  and  the  service  of  His 


Blessed  Aimo  Taparelli.  183 

church  by  entering  the  order  of  Friar  Preachers. 
He  received  the  habit  in  tlie  monastery  of  his 
native  town.  From  that  time  he  had  but  one 
thought,  to  render  himself  worthy  of  the 
apostolate  by  prayer,  penance,  and  study. 
Piety  without  solid  learning  is  insufficient  for 
him  who  is  the  guide  of  souls,  while  learning, 
unless  sanctified  by  prayer  and  seasoned  with 
penance,  is  still  more  hurtful.  So  he  studied 
and  prayed,  and  thus  he  became  a saint. 

In  due  time,  from  a scholar  he  was  made 
master,  and  employed  in  teaching  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Turin,  an  honor  and  distinction 
conferred  on  only  the  most  eminent  among  the 
Dominican  professors.  He  was  also  an  inde- 
fatigable preacher,  and  led  many  hardened 
sinners  back  to  God  and  penance,  and  had  the 
great  satisfaction  of  persuading  several  heretics 
to  return  to  God’s  holy  church. 

His  reputation  for  learning,  eloquence,  and 
holiness  having  become  known  to  Blessed 
Amadeus,  Duke  of  Savoy,  he  invited  him  to 
preach  at  his  court,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the 
prince  confided  his  conscience  to  his  care,  the 
greatest  mark  of  esteem  one  saint  can  give  to 
another. 


1 84  Blessed  Aimo  TaparellL 

Blessed  Bartholomew  Cerverius,  having 
fallen  a martyr  to  the  rage  of  the  heretics, 
Blessed  Aimo  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  in 
the  ofifice  of  commissary  of  the  holy  Inquisi- 
tion, and  was  invested  with  the  office  of  Vicar 
General  of  Savigliano,  with  the  duty  of  watch- 
ing over  the  purity  of  the  faith  in  Alba, 
Mondovi,  Saluzzo,  and  the  neighboring  coun- 
try. Soon  afterwards  he  was  nominated 
Inquisitor  General  in  Upper  Lombardy  and 
Liguria,  a laborious  and  difficult  office  which 
he  kept  until  his  death.  He  was  frequently 
elected  Prior  of  Savigliano,  and  more  than 
once  Vicar  Provincial.  His  personal  example 
and  his  eloquent  exhortations  powerfully 
contributed  to  the  maintenance  of  religious 
discipline.  During  his  priorate  the  body  of 
Blessed  Antony  of  Pavia  was  solemnly  trans- 
lated to  Savigliano.  This  Dominican  martyr 
met  with  his  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Vau- 
dois,  having  attempted  to  combat  their  deadly 
errors  in  Piedmont. 

In  the  midst  of  his  multiplied  labors  he 
lived  in  continual  recollection  and  peace  of 
soul.  He  had  these  words,  “ To  serve  God  is 
to  reign,”  continually  on  his  lips.  He  caused 


Blessed  Aimo  Taparelli.  185 

them  to  be  written  on  the  door  of  his  cell,  and 
on  the  fagade  of  the  monastery  church  ; and 
his  whole  life  was  one  practical  application  of 
his  favorite  motto.  Sometimes  he  retired 
into  a solitary  place  on  a mountain  near 
Saluzzo,  where  he  could  give  himself  without 
hindrance  to  prayer  and  contemplation.  His 
familiarity  with  the  holy  angels  was  known  to 
all.  He  continually  conversed  with  them, 
and  once  on  the  feast  of  Saint  Hyppolitus 
and  his  fellow  martyrs,  when  saying  the 
Divine  office,  he  came  to  these  words  of 
the  psalms,  “ Exultabunt  sancti  in  gloria,” 
“ The  saints  shall  rejoice  in  glory,”  the 
angels  answered  him:  “ Lsetabuntur  in  cii- 
bilibus  suis,”  “ They  shall  be  joyful  in 
their  beds  ” (Psalm  cxlix.  v.  5),  from  which 
he  knew  that  his  own  death  was  near  at 
hand. 

He  slept  in  the  Lord  two  days  afterwards, 
the  Holy  Mother  of  God,  wliom  he  had  so 
much  loved  and  served  so  f..  i’lfiilly,  obtaining 
for  him  the  grace  to  die  on  the  feast  of  her 
glorious  Assumption  into  heaven.  Embracing 
the  crucifix,  which  he  held  tightly  in  his  hands 
_for  a long  time  after  his  soul  had  been  reunited 


1 86  Blessed  Aimo  Taparelli, 

to  his  Creator,  he  died,  August  15,  1495,  in 
his  hundredth  year. 

An  immense  crowd  gathered  round  his 
mortal  remains.  Everyone  desired  to  obtain 
some  pious  relic,  and  there  was  but  one  opin- 
ion about  his  sanctity,  but  it  was  not  until  the 
present  century  that  the  formal  approbation  of 
the  church  was  asked  and  obtained  for  his 
public  worship. 


Prayer. 

Ant.  Blessed  is  this  saint  who  trusted  in  the 
Lord;  he  preached  the  commandments  of  the 
Lord,  and  is  now  established  upon  His  holy 
mountain. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Aimo, 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

Almighty  and  most  merciful  God,  to  serve 
whom  is  to  reign,  grant  through  the  merits 
and  intercession  of  Blessed  Aimo,  Thy  con- 
fessor, whom  thou  madest  a famous  champion 
of  the  Faith,  that,  keeping  Thy  command- 


Blessed  Aimo  Taparellu 


187 


merits  faithfully  on  earth,  we  may  deserve  to 
enjoy  Thy  eternal  kingdom  with  him  in 
heaven.  Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  CONSTANTIUS  OF 
FABRIANO. 


•( 


BLESSED  CONSTANTIUS  OF  FABRL 
ANO. 


FEBRUARY  25. 

To  write  the  life  of  a saint,  to  sketch  in 
words  what  has  passed  in  the  heart,  to  give 
an  account  not  so  much  of  the  man  or  his  ac- 
tions, as  of  his  motives,  to  propose  his  sanctity 
for  imitation,  is  a task  in  which  indeed  it  is 
easy  to  fail.  But  when  little  is  known  of  his 
life,  it  is  well-nigh  impossible  to  do  justice  to 
so  high  a theme. 

Such  is  the  case  with  him  who  sets  himself 
to  write  the  life  of  Blessed  Constantins,  so  few 
records  and  such  scanty  details  have  been 
handed  down  to  posterity. 

Among  the  wise  ordinations  made  in  the 
fifteenth  century,  by  Raymund  of  Capua, 
Master  General  of  the  order,  for  the  restora- 
tion of  primitive  discipline,  was  one  that 
recommended  that  there  should  be  in  every 
Dominican  Province  at  least  one  monastery  of 


192  Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano, 

strict  observance  of  the  rule.  The  Fathers  of 
the  monastery  of  Saint  Lucy  at  Fabriano 
hastened  to  carry  out  this  ordination,  and 
merited  the  happiness  of  obtaining  for  Prior 
Blessed  John  Dominic,  and  Blessed  Laurence 
of  Ripafratta ; and  it  seems  probable  that  it 
was  from  the  hands  of  the  latter  that  Blessed 
Constantins  received  the  habit. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century, 
near  the  monastery  of  Saint  Lucy  in  Fabriano, 
there  dwelt  the  pious  family  of  Bernard  de 
Servoli.  Constantins,  one  of  his  sons,  was 
noted  for  his  truly  remarkable  piety,  which 
gained  for  him  the  name  of  “ Friend  of  the 
good  God.’’  Chosen  by  God  for  the  service 
of  the  altar,  many  signs  made  known  His  holy 
will.  He  had  a sister  nine  years  old,  who  had 
passed  seven  years  of  her  brief  life  in  a sick- 
ness declared  by  physicians  to  be  incurable. 
One  day,  Constantins  led  his  parents  to  his 
sister’s  bedside,  and  begged  them  to  kneel 
down  with  him  to  implore  God  to  grant  a 
cure.  They  did  so,  and  as  soon  as  their  sim- 
ple prayer  had  risen  to  heaven  her  pains 
ceased,  her  weakness  vanished,  never  to  return, 
and  she  was  restored  to  health.  This  was 


Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano,  193 

regarded  as  a miracle,  and  ascribed  to  the 
merits  of  his  prayers  and  holiness,  and  caused 
him  to  be  regarded  as  a saint. 

Bernard  and  his  wife  often  asked  each  other 
if^  instead  of  a son,  God  had  not  sent  them  an 
angel  to  show  them  the  way  to  heaven,  more 
especially  when  they  happened  to  hear  Con- 
stantins exhorting  sinners  to  repentance,  by 
reminding  them  of  the  shortness  of  life,  the 
nearness  of  death,  and  the  judgment  of 
God,  and  earnestly  begging  them  to  live  in  the 
fear  of  God,  obedient  to  His  holy  laws,  and  in 
the  practise  of  Christian  virtues.  His  words 
were  so  forcible  that  the  most  hardened  sin- 
ners were  obliged  to  listen,  and  when  they 
listened  their  hearts  were  changed.  The 
nothingness  of  this  fleeting  world,  the  hollow- 
ness of  human  pleasures,  the  sad  inclination 
to  sin  man  finds  within  himself,  the  malice  of 
the  devil,  such  were  the  great  truths  he  medi- 
tated on  in  his  youth,  and  by  which  he  never 
failed  to  lead  sinners  to  repentance. 

When  Constantins  arrived  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  felt  that  God  had  given  him  a voca- 
tion to  enter  the  Dominican  order,  and  in  the 
unsullied  whiteness  of  his  baptismal  innocence 


194  Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano. 

he  went  to  the  monastery  in  Fabriano,  and 
having  humbly  asked  to  be  admitted,  received 
the  holy  habit.  Of  his  novitiate  and  the  years 
immediately  following  we  have  only  a few 
words  of  record,  which  tell  us,  that  like  a true 
Dominican,  he  loved  to  pray,  delighted  to 
meditate  on  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  that 
he  excelled  in  his  studies  ; also  that  he  wrote 
several  commentaries  on  Aristotle. 

After  his  ordination  he  taught  in  the  Domin- 
ican schools  of  philosophy  and  theology,  in 
the  principal  Italian  cities,  with  unusual  profit 
to  his  pupils.  His  style  was  brief,  clear,  easy 
yet  solid,  and  his  lectures  were  distinguished 
for  elevation  of  thought.  He  seems  to  have 
been  one  of  the  first  of  those  generous  souls 
who  began  the  reform  of  the  celebrated  mon- 
astery of  San  Marco  in  Florence.  While 
engaged  in  teaching  in  that  city  he  predicted 
the  death  of  one  of  his  students,  and  the  event 
proved  the  truth  of  his  prophecy.  Among 
those  who  attended  his  lectures  was  a young 
man,  a native  of  Genoa,  One  day  the  saint 
told  him  not  to  bathe,  because  if  he  did  he 
would  be  drowned.  The  young  student  neg- 
lected the  warning,  went  to  bathe  as  usual, 


Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano,  195 

and  was  no  sooner  in  the  water  than  he  lost 
his  depth,  and  sank,  never  again  to  rise. 

Going  one  day  from  Florence  to  Pisa  he 
found  a man  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  who 
had  been  thrown  by  his  mule,  and  so  badly 
hurt  that  he  had  broken  one  arm,  and  put  his 
ankle  out  of  joint.  He  begged  the  father  to 
take  him  to  the  nearest  place  where  he  could 
pass  the  night.  Blessed  Constantins  tenderly 
bade  him  place  his  confidence  in  God’s  power 
and  goodness.  Then  having  knelt  a moment 
in  earnest  prayer  he  blessed  him,  and  when 
he  arose  the  man  was  cured. 

Unlike  the  greater  number  of  Dominican 
saints,  who  were  remarkable  for  their  pious 
gayety  of  heart  and  joyousness  of  manner, 
Blessed  Constantins  was  usually  sad  and  very 
grave.  He  was  constantly  in  tears,  and  his 
face  bore  marks  of  Christian  melancholy. 
Asked  one  day  why  he  seldom  laughed,  he 
answered,  “Alas  Brother!  I do  not  know 
whether  my  deeds  are  pleasing  in  the  sight  of 
God.”  In  the  chronicle  of  the  monastery  of 
Perugia,  of  which  monastery  he  was  Prior,  he 
is  described  as  “a  man  of  admirable  penance.” 
To  the  long  fast  of  the  order,  which  com- 


Jg6  Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano, 

inencing  on  the  14th  of  February  does  not 
cease  until  Easter  Sunday,  he  added  a fast  on 
bread  and  water  on  all  the  Fridays  of  Lent; 
and  he  observed  the  Dominican  Rule  of  per- 
petual abstinence  from  flesh  meat  so  strictly, 
that  even  in  old  age  he  never  broke  it.  His 
sleep  was  short,  and  he  wore  a shirt  covered 
with  iron  nails,  which  was  religiously  perserved 
in  the  monastery  of  Ascoli  until  its  suppres- 
sion in  1866.  His  confessor  testified  after  his 
death,  that  he  kept  intact  the  flower  of  his 
virginity.  After  reciting  matins  at  midnight 
in  the  choir  he  never  retired  to  rest,  but  re- 
mained near  the  altar  in  prayer  until  morning. 
His  tears  bedewed  the  pavement,  and  his  fervor 
was  such  that  his  cries  and  groans  often  dis- 
turbed the  slumbers  of  the  other  Fathers  of  the 
monastery.  God  gave  him  prophetic  light. 
Thus  he  predicted  the  sack  of  Fabriano,  in 
151/0  To  prophecy,  God  joined  the  power  of 
working  miracles,  which,  as  we  have  already 
seen  he  enjoyed  in  his  childhood.  He  cured 
a Brother  of  the  order  of  a sickness  incurable 
by  medicine,  restored  sight  to  a blind  man, 
and  more  wonderful  still,  recalled  a dead  man 
to  life.  This  man’s  parents  and  those  wbo 


Blessed  ' Const antius  of  Fabriano,  1 97 

were  present,  turned  him  into  ridicule,  and 
accused  him  of  tempting  God,  when  he  said 
to  the  dead  man,  “In  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  arise  I ” But  when  the  dead  man  arose, 
obedient  to  the  saint’s  voice,  they  fell  at  his 
feet  in  fear.  He  bade  them  rise  and  said, 
“ Never  despise  any  of  God’s  servants.  Call  to 
your  mind  our  Blessed  Saviour’s  promise : 
‘ They  who  believe  in  me,  shall  do  the  works  I 
do,  and  much  greater.’  ” The  death  of  Saint 
Antoninus  was  revealed  to  him  at  the  time  it 
took  place.  After  the  matins  of  the  second  of 
March,  1459,  remained  according  to  his 
custom,  in  the  choir,  when  just  at  daybreak, 
he  saw  the  souls  of  two  Dominicans  leaving 
this  world.  One  descended  into  Purgatory, 
but  the  other,  which  he  recognized  as  that  of 
novice  master,  St.  Antoninus,  rose  at  once  to 
glory.  Pope  Clement  VII.  in  his  bull  of  the 
canonization  of  St.  Antoninus  mentions  this 
vision  : “The  opinion  which  every  one  had  of 
the  goodness  and  holiness  of  the  Archbishop,” 
says  the  Pope,  “ was  still  more  increased  by 
the  visions  with  which  were  favored  a Cister- 
cian monk  of  Florence,  and  Constantins  of 
Fabriano,  a professed  religious  of  the  Order  of 


198  Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano. 

Friar  Preachers,  no  less  illustrious  by  the  holi- 
ness of  his  life,  than  by  his  science  and 
doctrine.  At  the  same  hour  as  the  death  of 
Blessed  Antoninus,  both  saw  the  angels  carry- 
ing his  soul  to  heaven.”  Clement  VII.  had 
known  Blessed  Constantins  when  he  was 
appointed  Governor  of  Fabriano  by  his  cousin 
and  predecessor,  Leo  the  Tenth. 

Blessed  Constantins  was  accustomed  to  say 
the  office  of  the  dead  every  day,  and  very 
often  the  whole  of  the  psalms  of  David.  This 
seems  to  have  been  a favorite  devotion  among 
the  Dominican  Saints  of  olden  times.  Until 
late  years  the  constitutions  required  the  nov- 
ices to  learn  the  whole  of  the  psalms  by  heart, 
not  only  that  they  might  the  more  easily  recite 
the  divine  office  without  books  in  the  choir, 
but  also  that  the  words  of  the  royal  psalmist 
might  ever  be  on  their  lips.  Blessed  Con- 
stantins, faithful  to  the  spirit  of  his  order, 
knew  the  psalms  by  heart,  and  loved  to  season 
his  words  with  extracts  from  them.  And  we 
are  told  that  when  he  desired  any  great  favor 
from  God,  he  said  the  Psalter  for  that  inten- 
tion, and  to  invite  his  fellow  Dominicans  to 
love  and  practise  the  same  devotion,  he  told 


Blessed  Const antius  of  Fabriano,  199 

them  one  day,  that  he  never  completed  the 
recitation  of  the  Psalter  without  obtaining 
what  he  prayed  for.  In  1473  the  Turks 
attacked  Greece;  some  one  asked  him  to  say 
the  Psalter  that  they  might  repulse  their 
enemy.  Several  times  he  commenced  to  say 
it  for  that  intention,  and  as  many  times  was 
hindered  from  completing  it,  when  he  told  his 
brothers  that  God  had  given  him  a sign  that 
he  wished  to  punish  the  Greeks  for  their  sins. 

He  was  several  times  Prior  of  Fabriano  and 
Perugia,  and  always  proved  a prudent  superior. 
His  great  attraction  to  prayer  and  recollec- 
tion did  not  hinder  him  from  taking  a promi- 
nent share  in  public  events.  He  reconciled 
factions,  and  appeased  popular  tumults.  He 
rebuilt  the  monastery  of  Ascoli.  It  still 
remains  and  is  a model  of  a religious  house, 
humble  in  its  style  and  severe  in  its  architec- 
ture. The  city  council  several  times  aided 
him  with  means  to  continue  the  building  when 
funds  were  wanting,  to  show  their  esteem  and 
veneration  for  the  holy  Prior.  He  assisted  in 
1474  at  the  Provincial  chapter  at  Mantua  of 
the  Dominican  congregation  of  Lombardy. 
His  reputation  and  tlie  fame  of  the  miracles  he 


200  Blessed  Constaiitius  of  Fabriano. 

had  wrought  had  preceded  him,  and  the  ven- 
eration in  which  he  was  held  broke  out  in  a 
popular  demonstration  on  his  arrival.  To  see 
him  or  speak  to  him,  to  touch  him  or  his  habit 
seemed  an  inestimable  favor  all  were  anxious 
to  enjoy,  and  large  pieces  of  his  habit  were  cut 
off  which  were  carefully  preserved  as  relics. 

The  following  year  the  inhabitants  of 
Fabriano  made  endeavors  to  persuade  his 
superiors  to  send  him  to  spend  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  town,  but  he 
obtained  permission  to  remain  in  Ascoli,  and 
thus  escape  so  much  honor  and  veneration. 
On  the  Sunday  before  Sexagesima,  1481,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  every  one  was  surprised  to  see  a 
number  of  little  children  running  through  the 
streets  of  Ascoli,  and  to  hear  them  crying  out, 
“ The  holy  Prior  is  dead,  the  holy  Prior  is 
dead.'’  The  Blessed  Father  was  indeed  dead. 
He  slept  in  the  Lord  on  that  day.  The 
Senate  and  town  council  assembled  on  the 
news  of  his  death,  and  “considering”  as  the 
words  of  the  records  of  its  deliberations  have 
it,  “ that  his  death  was  a public  calamity,” 
resolved  to  assist  at  his  funeral,  and  to  defray 
part  of  the  cost  of  the  ceremony.  God  also 


Blessed  Const antius  of  Fabriano.  261 

wished  to  honor  his  faithful  servant,  and  the 
staff  which  the  Blessed  Father  had  used  in  his 
old  age  became  a miracle  worker.  Many 
miracles  were  the  divinely  given  reward  of 
prayers  in  honor  of  Blessed  Constantins,  more 
especially  in  Ascoli,  Fabriano  and  Perugia. 

Although  miracles  through  his  intercession 
have  continued  without  ceasing,  and  the  voice 
of  a grateful  people  has  continually  proclaimed 
him  a saint,  it  was  only  recently,  in  i8ii,  that 
the  church  formally  sanctioned  his  cultus. 
After  that  time  miracles  multiplied  at  his 
tomb  in  Ascoli,  until  1866  when  the  cruel 
revolution  drove  the  Fathers  away  from  the 
monastery.  Since  then  his  venerable  relics 
cry  to  God  in  the  solitude  of  the  silent  shrine. 
His  head  was  taken  to  Fabriano  in  1529  by  a 
Dominican  Father,  and  confided  to  the  care 
of  the  Carmaldolese  monks  of  the  monastery 
of  St.  Sebastian.  It  still  remains  there,  the 
object  of  popular  veneration. 

Blessed  Constantins  wrote  ‘‘  The  Life  of 
Blessed  Conrad  of  Brescia,”  his  novice  master; 
also  lives  of  some  other  Blessed  of  the  order, 
and  “ Sermons  ‘ De  Tempore  ’ and  ‘ De  Sanc- 
tis.’ ” 


202  Blessed  Constantins  of  Fabriano, 
Prayer, 

Ant,  This  saint  shall  dwell,  O Lord,  within 
Thy  tabernacle  : he  hath  wrought  justice,  he 
shall  rest  upon  Thy  holy  mountain. 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Constantius. 

R,  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  didst  make  Blessed  Constantius, 
Thy  confessor,  glorious  amongst  the  people 
for  his  continual  exercise  of  prayer  and  his 
zeal  in  the  promotion  of  peace,  grant  at  his 
intercession,  that  always  walking  in  the  paths 
of  justice,  we  may  attain  to  everlasting  peace 
and  glory,  through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESSED  CHRISTOPHER  OF  MILAN. 


■ I.  ^ 


BLESSED  CHRISTOPHER  OF  MILAN. 


MARCH  I. 

Blessed  Christopher  received  the  Domin- 
ican habit  in  the  Monastery  of  St.  Eustor- 
gius,  Milan,  about  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century. 

To  quench  his  thirst  for  holiness  he  drank 
deeply  of  penance  and  prayer,  those  two 
fountains  of  sanctity,  purifying  both  by  long 
fasts  and  severe  abstinence.  To  these  means 
of  arriving  at  holiness  he  added  a very  rigid 
observance  of  the  vow  of  poverty  he  had 
taken  at  his  religious  profession,  and  a con- 
tinual practise  of  humility,  and  its  offspring, 
virginal  chastity.  Unruffled  patience,  and  well 
tried  prudence,  combined  with  every  Christian 
virtue  and  monastic  perfection,  made  him  in 
truth  a very  holy  man.  To  all  these  acquired 
virtues  were  joined  a fine  intellect  and  ready 
comprehension,  with  many  other  natural 
talents  of  no  mean  order.  Powerful  in  words 


2o6  Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan. 


and  deeds,  Blessed  Christopher  soon  after  his 
ordination  became  well  known,  and  his  fame 
was  universal  in  the  north  of  Italy.  He  was 
an  apostolic  preacher,  and  by  his  sermons 
converted  many  sinners,  and  worked  a great 
moral  change  wherever  he  went.  Neither 
difficulties  nor  fatigue  could  daunt  him  ; a 
messenger  of  the  mercy  of  God  he  was  always 
ready  to  go  at  once  when  called  to  any  labor 
for  the  good  of  souls.  The  difficulty  of 
travelling,  much  greater  in  those  days  than 
now,  could  not  hinder  him,  even  when  he  had 
to  pass  through  wild  districts  in  which  roads 
were  few,  and  often  exceedingly  dangerous. 

He  evangelized  many  parts  of  Italy,  but 
more  especially  Liguria.  In  1406  he  went  to 
preach  at  Taggia,  where  his  success  was  even 
greater  than  usual.  The  inhabitants  were  so 
charmed  by  his  sanctity  and  preaching,  that 
they  determined  to  build  a monastery  and 
church  for  him.  They  were  speedily  erected 
and  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary, 
under  the  title  of  Mother  of  Mercy,  and  were 
built  on  a site  made  known  to  him  in  a vision. 
A marked  improvement  was  soon  seen  in  the 
people  of  Taggia,  and  many  of  the  mo$t 


Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan.  207 

prominent  citizens,  bidding  adieu  to  the 
pleasures  of  life,  entered  the  Dominican  Order, 
that  under  his  guidance  they  might  make  real 
progress  in  the  ways  of  true  perfection. 

God  endowed  him  with  prophecy.  One  day 
he  saw  the  people  dancing  in  the  square  at 
Castellano.  “ I see  you  now,”  he  said,  “danc- 
ing merrily ; yet  your  ruin  is  not  far  off,  and 
your  joy  will  soon  be  changed  into  grief.” 
And  in  fact  a fearful  plague  carried  off  the 
greater  part  of  the  population  of  the  town 
only  a few  years  afterwards.  He  predicted 
that  the  town  of  Trioria  would  be  burnt  down, 
which  happened  when  the  French  invaded 
Italy.  They  gave  the  town  up  to  pillage,  set 
it  on  fire,  and  reduced  it  to  ashes.  A famine 
predicted  by  him  happened  soon  after  his 
death.  To  the  inhabitants  of  Taggia  he  fore- 
told that  they  would  flee  from  the  town, 
although  not  pursued,  and  that  the  river  which 
flowed  through  its  walls  would  leave  its  bed, 
and  destroy  their  gardens.  When  they  seemed 
incredulous  he  said,  “ You  yourselves  will  see 
it,  and  many  other  misfortunes  which  I do  not 
now  make  known  to  you.”  Both  these  pre- 
dictions were  verified  to  the  letter.  About 


2o8  Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan. 

seven  years  before  he  spoke,  Constantinople 
had  fallen  under  the  Turkish  yoke,  and  Italy 
was  menaced  with  invasion.  But  as  the 
danger  seemed  far  off  nothing  was  done  to 
avert  it.  In  1480,  twenty  years  after  Blessed 
Christopher  had  uttered  this  prophecy,  a Turk- 
ish fleet  appeared  in  sight  of  the  Italian 
coast,  and  finding  no  opposition  the  troops 
were  landed  at  Otranto.  Twelve  thousand 
Christians  were  killed  or  made  prisoners,  and 
every  priest  was  slain.  A Dominican  Father 
of  Otranto  was  in  the  pulpit  preaching  when 
the  Turks  entered  the  town.  He  continued 
his  sermon;  The  Turks  rushing  into  the 
church  commanded  him  to  come  down  ; and 
on  his  refusal  he  was  cut  in  two,  and  died 
murmuring!  “Holy  faith!  holy  faith,  holy 
faith ! ” Italy  was  convulsed  with  fear  at 
the  news  of  this  invasion.  Taggia  like  many 
other  towns  was  deserted,  and  thus  the 
first  part  of  Blessed  Christopher’s  prediction 
came  true.  ' The  flood  also  happened  as  he 
said.  The  neighboring  mountains  partially 
crumbled  away  ; immense  rocks  rolled  down 
their  sides  and  falling  into  the  bed  of  the  river 
forced  the  water  to  overflow  the  plains,  cans- 


Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan.  2og 

ing  the  utmost  destruction.  The  smiling 
valley  became  a sad  picture  of  desolation, 
houses  were  ruined,  gardens  destroyed,  and 
the  walls  of  the  town  broken  down. 

Blessed  Christopher’s  holy  life  and  his  fer- 
vent preaching  gave  him  a wonderful  influence 
over  the  hearts  and  affections  of  the  people. 
But,  as  his  biographers  are  careful  to  tell  us,  it 
was  the  solidity  of  his  doctrine  that  caused  his 
great  success.  His  sermons  were  full  of  dogma, 
and  it  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  fed 
the  people  with  the  bread  of  life,  and  an- 
nounced to  them  the  pure  word  of  God. 
When  he  was  Prior  of  Taggia,  he  ordered  that 
all  the  Fathers  of  the  monastery  should  study 
the  Holy  Scriptures  every  day  ; also  that  they 
should  read  the  works  of  the  Holy  Fathers  of 
the  church,  especially  those  of  the  angelic 
Doctor  Saint  Thomas  Aquinas,  instead  of 
spending  their  time  in  reading  the  works  of 
popular  authors,  so  that  their  sermons,  like 
his  own,  might  be  full  of  sound  doctrine,  and 
that  the  intellects  as  well  as  the  hearts  of  the 
people  might  be  convinced  by  their  sermons. 
He  was  very  indignant  at  those  preachers  who, 
disdaining  the  Gospel  of  the  day,  and  neglect- 


210  Blessed  Christopher  of  Milan. 

ing  the  Holy  Scriptures,  preached  new-fangled 
notions  of  their  own.  His  own  sermons  were 
models  in  this  respect,  full  of  the  words  of 
Holy  Scripture  and  quotations  from  Saint 
Thomas  Aquinas  and  the  Fathers  of  the 
church.  This  was  chiefly  due  to  his  constant 
study  of  the  “Catena  Aurea,”  or  “Golden 
Chain,”  written  by  Saint  Thomas,  comprising 
selections  from  the  Greek  and  Latin  Fathers. 

He  himself  compiled  four  large  volumes  for 
the  use  of  preachers,  which  were  preserved  in 
the  monastery  library.  The  first  and  second 
volumes  contained  sermons  for  all  the  Sundays 
and  feasts  of  the  whole  year ; the  third  con- 
sisted of  sermons  for  the  feasts  of  the  Saints ; 
while  the  fourth  was  a collection  of  extracts 
from  the  Fathers. 

In  1484  he  went  to  preach  a course  of  ser- 
mons during  Lent  at  Pigna,  near  Ventimiglia, 
during  which  he  fell  sick,  and  feeling  conscious 
that  his  death  was  drawing  near  he  begged  to 
be  taken  to  Taggia  without  delay,  so  that  he 
might  die  surrounded  by  his  dear  Brothers  in 
religion.  Overtaken  by  a severe  storm  he 
arrived  at  the  monastery  wet  to  the  skin. 
The  Prior  immediately  administered  to  him 


Blessed  Christopher  op  Milan.  21 1 

the  last  sacraments,  and  soon  after  he  gave  his 
holy  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator.  Mir- 
acles rendered  his  memory  illustrious,  and 
from  that  day  he  has  always  been  honored  as  a 
Saint.  He  was  not  beatified  however  until 
1875- 

Faithful  to  his  baptismal  vows  Christ  reigned 
in  his  heart;  His  name  was  ever  on  his  lips, 
and  He  lived  again  in  all  his  actions ; and 
having  been  an  example  to  us  on  earth  he  now 
makes  intercession  for  us  with  Christ  in 
heaven. 

Prayer. 

Ant.  I will  liken  him  to  a wise  man  who 
built  his  house  upon  a rock. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Christopher 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  hast  rendered  Blessed  Christo- 
pher, Thy  confessor,  worthy*to  be  Thy  servant, 
grant  that  by  his  merits,  and  by  imitating  him 
we  may  carry  Christ  in  ourselves  by  the  whole 
intention  of  our  minds  and  affections  of  our 
hearts,  who  live^t  and  reignest,  etc.  Amen. 


BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. 


BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. 


MARCH  2. 

He  who  attempts  to  write  the  life  of  Blessed 
Henry  Suso  would  do  well  to  imitate  the 
piety  of  the  quaint  authors  of  olden  times, 
who  began  their  labors  with  a prayer  for 
heavenly  guidance,  and  closed  them  with  a 
pious  petition  to  their  readers  not  to  forget  the 
writer  in  their  prayers.  He  also  who  reads  it 
should  do  so,  not  to  pass  away  an  idle  hour, 
but  from  an  earnest  desire  to  learn  something 
for  the  good  of  his  soul.  “ Worldly  minded 
men,”  says  Touron,  “ will  not  enjoy  his  life 
and  writings ; while  the  pious  will  always  find 
in  them  new  motives  which  will  lead  them  to 
tend  to  that  perfection  which  dwelt  in  the 
heart  of  this  servant  of  God.” 

Blessed  Henry  Suso  was  born  at  Uberlingen, 
near  Constance,  in  Suabia,  March  21,  1300. 
He  was  of  noble  family.  His  name  before  he 
entered  religion  was  John  de  Berg  de  Mon- 


2I6 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 

teze ; but  he  chose  to  be  called  Henry  Suso, 
Suzo  being  the  Latinized  form  of  Saiissen,  his 
mother’s  family  name.  She  was  a saintly 
woman  who  suffered  much  from  her  dissolute 
husband.  She  had  a great  and  tender  devo- 
tion to  the  Passion  of  our  Divine  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  upon  which  she  made  a 
tearful  meditation  every  morning.  Her  love 
for  God  was  so  great  that  her  weak  body  could 
not  bear  the  strain  her  exalted  piety  put  upon 
it,  and  she  underwent  many  a long  and  severe 
sickness,  which  she  bore  so  patiently,  that  her 
household  was  much  edified.  One  day,  kneel- 
ing before  a picture  of  Jesus  taken  down  from 
the  cross,  her  grief  became  so  extreme  that 
she  fell  fainting  on  the  ground.  She  was  car- 
ried to  her  bed,  which  she  never  again  left. 
It  was  at  the  beginning  of  Lent,  and  on  Good 
Friday,  at  the  same  hour  at  which  her  Divine 
Redeemer  died  on  the  cross  she  passed  away 
from  this  world. 

Some  years  afterwards,  when  Blessed  Henry 
had  entered  the  Dominican  Order  and  was  mak- 
ing his  studies  at  Cologne,  his  mother’s  soul 
appeared  to  him  in  a vision,  and  said  in  a joyful 
tone,  “ My  son,  love  the  Almighty  God,  for  it 


Blessed  Henry  Suso.  217 

is  certain  that  He  will  never  abandon  thee  in 
any  adversity.  Although  I have  left  this 
world,  nevertheless  I am  not  dead.  I live  in 
God  for  all  eternity.”  She  embraced  him 
tenderly,  and  after  blessing  him  disappeared. 

At  another  time  he  saw  his  deceased  father 
among  many  other  suffering  souls.  He  was  in 
great  pain,  and  described  to  his  son  the  tor- 
ments of  purgatory.  He  told  him  what  he 
should  do  to  relieve  him,  and  when  Blessed 
Henry  had  done  all  that  he  requested,  ap- 
peared to  him  a second  time  and  told  him  that 
he  was  delivered  from  all  suffering  and  was 
now  happy  in  heaven. 

Blessed  Henry,  profiting  by  the  pious  educa- 
tion given  him  by  his  holy  mother,  from  his 
childhood  felt  called  to  the  religious  state. 
He  entered  the  Dominican  Order  in  the  monas- 
tery at  Constance,  built  on  a small  island 
where  the  Rhine  flows  out  of  the  beautiful 
lake  of  the  same  name.  It  is  still  in  existence, 
but  no  longer  used  for  its  original  purpose, 
and  now  serves  for  a manufactory.  From  the 
window  of  his  cell  the  young  novice  could  see 
the  beauty  of  the  works  of  God  ; everything 
his  eye  fell  on  was  fitted  to  lead  his  mind  to 


2I8 


Blessed  Henry  Susa, 


the  author  of  nature,  to  draw  away  his 
thoughts  and  affections  from  earthly  things, 
and  to  fix  his  heart  and  mind  on  God. 

After  he  had  made  his  profession  he  was 
sent  to  the  Dominican  monastery  at  Cologne, 
that  he  might  study  at  the  University,  and 
was  about  to  be  raised  to  the  degree  of  Doctor 
in  Theology  when  he  was  interiorly  admon- 
ished by  God  not  to  accept  that  dignity. 
“ Thou  already  knowest,*'  said  this  heavenly 
voice,  “ how  to  give  thyself  to  God,  and  to 
draw  other  men  to  Him  by  preaching.” 

For  several  years  after  his  entrance  into  the 
monastery  he  seems  to  have  made  little  effort 
to  live  as  a true  religious  ; but  in  his  eigh- 
teenth year  a great  change  took  place  in  him. 
The  account  of  this,  the  turning  point  of  his 
life,  cannot  be  better  given  than  in  words 
from  his  autobiography.  “ The  first  beginning 
of  the  Servitor’s  perfect  conversion  to  God 
took  place  in  his  eighteenth  year;  and 
although  he  had  worn  the  religious  habit  for 
the  five  previous  years  his  soul  was  dissipated 
within  him,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  if  God 
only  preserved  him  from  weightier  sins  which 
might  tarnish  his  good  name,  there  was  no 


219 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 

need  to  be  overcareful  about  ordinary  faults. 
Nevertheless  he  was  so  kept  by  God  the  while 
that  he  had  always  an  unsatisfied  feeling 
within  him,  whenever  he  turned  himself  to  the 
object  of  his  desires,  and  it  seemed  to  him 
that  it  must  be  something  quite  different  that 
could  bring  peace  to  his  wild  heart,  and  he 
was  ill  at  ease  amid  his  restful  ways.  He  felt 
at  times  a gnawing  reproach  within,  and  yet 
he  could  not  help  himself,  until  the  kind 
God  set  him  free  from  it  by  converting  him. 
His  companions  marvelled  at  the  quick 
change,  wondering  how  it  had  come  over  him, 
and  one  said  this,  and  another  that,  but  as 
to  how  it  was  no  one  guessed  or  came  near  to 
guessing  ; for  it  was  a secret  illumination  and 
drawing  sent  by  God,  and  it  speedily  wrought 
in  him  a turning  away  from  creatures.” 

It  was  however  a hard  struggle  for  him,  as  it 
is  for  many  a soul,  but  he  weathered  the  storm 
which  his  spiritual  enemy  raised  around  him, 
and  saved  himself  from  the  shipwreck  which 
threatened  his  salvation.  The  devil  made 
every  effort  to  hinder  him  from  carrying  out 
the  good  resolutions  the  Spirit  of  God  inspired 
into  his  heart.  He  whispered  to  him,  “Re- 


220 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 

member  it  is  easy  to  begin,  but  almost 
impossible  to  persevere/'  But  Blessed  Henry, 
strong  in  the  grace  of  God,  and  resolute  in  his 
holy  purpose,  answered,  The  Holy  Ghost, 
who  calls  me  is  all-powerful.  He  can  do  in  me 
what  is  easy  and  what  is  difficult."  But  again 
the  tempter  whispered  to  him,  “No  one  can 
doubt  God’s  power,  but  can  you  count  on 
corresponding  to  His  grace?"  Blessed  Henry 
replied,  “ God  who  calls  me  will  not  abandon 
me ; He  invites  me  to  serve  Him,  and  will  not 
refuse  me  needful  help.”  Then  the  devil 
plied  him  with  all  the  old  arguments  he 
makes  use  of  to  hinder  souls  from  giving 
themselves  to  God  with  all  their  heart  and 
soul : that  his  conversion  was  too  sudden  and 
would  not  last ; that  moderation  is  the  best 
means  of  success ; that  no  one  becomes  a 
saint  all  at  once  ; that  although  religious  are 
free  to  live  a strict  and  mortified  life  in  private 
yet  in  public  they  ought  to  conform  to  the 
ways  of  the  world,  and  so  on.  But  on  the 
other  side  the  spirit  of  heavenly  wisdom  said 
to  him  : “ He  who  thinks  he  can  subdue  his 
body  and  reduce  it  to  the  law  of  the  spirit 
whilst  living  delicately  and  indulging  the 


Blessed  Henry  Suso.  221 

senses  is  very  foolish ; for  it  is  impossible  to 
enjoy  worldly  pleasures  and  serve  God  faith- 
fully at  the  same  time.  He  who  desires  to 
serve  God  must  begin  by  renouncing  his  own 
self-will.” 

One  day,  as  he  was  weeping  in  the  church 
in  great  perplexity  of  mind  God  favored  him 
with  a vision,  in  which,  to  encourage  and 
console  him  He  made  known  to  him  the 
inutterable  joys  of  heaven.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a series  of  visions  of  exquisite 
poetic  beauty,  which  continued  throughout  his 
whole  life.  Hearing  a part  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures read  in  the  refectory,  in  which  our  Lord 
is  called  the  “ Eternal  Wisdom,”  he  felt  his 
heart  violently  but  lovingly  attracted  towards 
the  Eternal  Wisdom,  and  from  that  moment 
his  life  became  a strong  and  earnest  struggle 
to  possess  it.  My  heart,  young  and  ardent,” 
he  says,  is  drawn  towards  love.  I cannot 
live  without  loving.  Created  things  cannot 
please  me,  nor  give  me  peace.”  He  much 
loved  to  repeat  those  words  of  Holy  Scripture, 
which  describe  the  pure  joys  of  heavenly  wis- 
dom : “Wisdom  is  more  beautiful  than  the 
sun,  and  above  all  the  order  of  the  skies;  being 


222 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


compared  with  the  light  she  is  found  before 
it.”  (Wisdom  vii.  29.)  “ Her  have  I loved, 

and  I have  sought  her  from  my  3^outh,  and 
have  desired  to  take  her  for  my  spouse,  and 
I became  a lover  of  her  beauty.”  (Cap.  viii. 
2.)  “ I purposed  therefore  to  take  her  to 

me  to  live  with  me,  knowing  that  she  will 
communicate  to  me  of  her  good  things,  and 
will  be  a comfort  to  me  in  my  cares  and 
griefs.”  (viii.  9.)  “ By  means  of  her  I shall 

have  immortality;  and  shall  leave  behind  me 
an  everlasting  memory  to  them  that  come  after 
me.”  (Ver.  13.) 

But  the  infernal  serpent  tried  to  rob  his 
young  soul  of  the  pure  delight  he  found  in  the 
love  of  the  Eternal  Wisdom.  “What  folly,” 
he  cunningly  suggested,  “ what  folly  to  love 
what  you  have  never  seen ! It  is  much  wiser 
to  possess  a small  but  certain  good  than  to  try 
to  get  what  at  best  is  doubtful.  The  Eternal 
Wisdom  you  so  much  long  for  demands  of  her 
lovers  that  they  become  enemies  of  them- 
selves, deprives  them  of  sleep,  starves  them, 
and  destroys  all  their  pleasures.”  But  Henry, 
already  enlightened  and  instructed  in  the 
rnaxirns  of  heavenly  wisdom,  answered : “ It 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


223 


is  a law  of  love  that  he  who  truly  loves  must 
suffer  pain.  See  how  much  earthly  lovers 
undergo!  ‘I  have  found  a woman  more 
bitter  than  death,’  said  Ecclesiastes , ‘ she  is 
the  hunter’s  snare,  and  her  heart  is  a net,  and 
her  hands  are  bands.  He  that  pleaseth 
God  shall  escape  from  her , but  he  that  is  a 
sinner  shall  be  caught  by  her.’ " (Eccles.  vii. 
27.) 

Yet  his  heart,  not  yet  perfectly  cleansed 
from  things  of  earth,  yearned  to  see  the 
heavenly  Bride  he  had  espoused  ; and  God,  in 
His  fatherly  goodness  granted  his  desire. 
She  appeared  to  him,  but  afar  off.  Raised 
on  a column  of  cloud,  of  majesty  unutterable, 
shining  brighter  than  the  morning  sun,  like  a 
pure  and  charming  virgin,  she  gained  his  heart 
by  her  sweetness  and  pure  attractions.  He 
threw  himself  in  spirit  at  her  feet,  and  cried 
out,  “ I have  chosen  you  for  my  beloved,  for 
the  queen  of  my  heart.”  Again  and  again 
was  this  vision  vouchsafed  him,  and  again  and 
again  the  Eternal  Wisdom  delighted  his  pure 
and  virginal  soul,  and  again  and  again  he 
chose  her  for  his  only  Ipve  and  the  spouse  qf 
his  heart;. 


224  Blessed  Henry  Suso. 

He  had  a very  great  devotion  to  the  ador- 
able name  of  Jesus.  One  day  he  took  a sharp 
pointed  knife  and  pierced  the  holy  name  on 
his  flesh  above  his  heart,  so  that  at  every  beat 
he  might,  as  it  were,  pronounce  this  holy 
name.  And  then,  in  a transport  of  love,  he 
cried  out,  “Ah  Lord!  my  heart  and  soul’s 
only  love  ! look  now  upon  my  intense  desire. 
Lord  ! I cannot  imprint  Thee  any  deeper  in 
myself ; but  do  Thou,  O Lord,  I beseech 
Thee,  complete  the  work,  and  imprint  Thyself 
deep  down  into  my  very  inmost  heart,  and  so 
inscribe  Thy  holy  name  that  Thou  mayest 
nevermore  depart  from  me.” 

He  kept  this  a secret,  and,  except  to  one 
very  intimate  friend,  revealed  it  to  no  one. 
Whenever  he  was  in  any  trouble  he  bared  his 
breast  and  gazed  on  the  Holy  Name  written 
there,  and  cried  out,  “ See,  Lord,  earthly 
lovers  write  their  beloved’s  name  upon  their 
garments,  but  I have  written  Thee  upon  the 
fresh  blood  of  my  heart.”  Once  upon  a time 
he  was  wrapped  into  ecstasy,  and  saw  a light 
stream  forth  from  his  heart  so  brilliant  that 
although  he  drew  his  cloak  over  it,  he  could 
not  hide  it.  A cross  of  gold  appeared  over 


Blessed  Henry  Suso,  225 

his  heart,  and  the  Holy  Name  of  Jesus 
sparkled  from  jewels  set  upon  it. 

Many  years  afterwards,  a certain  holy 
maiden  saw  in  a vision  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
holding  a beautiful  candle  in  her  hand  which 
illumined  the  whole  world.  And  all  around 
the  light  which  streamed  from  the  candle 
she  saw  the  Holy  Name  of  Jesus.  And  the 
Blessed  mother  told  her  that  her  Divine  Son 
had  chosen  Henry  to  spread  devotion  to  His 
Holy  Name.  This  devout  maiden  wrote  the 
Holy  Name  of  Jesus  on  a small  piece  of  cloth 
like  a scapular  and  always  wore  it  near  her 
heart.  She  also  made  many  like  it,  and  per- 
suaded Blessed  Henry  to  bless  them,  and  to 
lay  them  on  his  bare  breast.  It  was  revealed 
to  her  that  all  who  wore  them,  and  said  one 
“ Our  Father’*  daily  in  honor  of  the  Holy 
Name,  would  be  beloved  by  God  on  earth, 
and  would  find  grace  at  the  hour  of  death. 

It  was  Blessed  Henry’s  • custom  to  salute 
Mary,  the  star  of  heaven,  early  in  the  morning, 
singing  in  his  soul  a sweet  canticle,  in  loving 
imitation  of  the  birds  that  greet  the  rising  sun 
in  the  summer  morn.  And  as  he  was  doing 
so  one  morning  he  heard  a melodious  voice 


226 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


singing  these  words:  “Mary,  star  of  the  sea, 
has  risen  to-day;”  and  the  glorious  Queen  of 
Heaven  said  to  him,  “ The  more  thou  dost 
lovingly  embrace  me  on  earth,  the  more 
tenderly  I will  embrace  thee  in  heaven.” 

Another  morning,  in  Carnival  time,  after 
spending  the  whole  night  in  prayer,  the  angels 
sang  to  him  as  the  morn  arose,  “ Arise  and 
be  illuminated,  O Jerusalem.”  (Isaias  Ixi.) 
This  chant  caused  such  a joy  in  his  heart  that 
his  frail  body  could  not  bear  such  a strain,  and 
the  angels  were  forced  to  cease.  The  souls  of 
the  dead  often  appeared  to  him  and  revealed 
to  him  the  state  they  were  in.  Among  them 
he  saw  the  soul  of  the  celebrated  mystical 
writer  Echardt.  He  told  Blessed  Henry  that 
he  was  happy  in  heaven,  inundated  with  joy, 
and  all  transformed  in  God.  Henry  asked 
him  to  tell  him  the  most  efficacious  method 
of  arriving  at  perfect  beatitude.  Echardt 
answered,  “ It  is  to  die  to  one’s  self  by  detach- 
ment ; to  receive  all  that  happens  as  if  from 
the  hands  of  God ; and  to  be  patient  towards 
all  men,  however  selfish  they  may  be.” 
Blessed  Henry  also  asked  him  about  the  mode 
in  which  holy  souls  rest  in  God,  and  was 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


227 


answered  that  no  words  could  explain  it. 
From  the  soul  of  a Dominican  Brother,  John 
de  Furcrer,  he  desired  to  learn  the  greatest 
and  most  meritorious  suffering  the  just  can 
endure,  and  was  told  : “ It  is  when  one  finds 
one’s  self  abandoned  by  God,  when  one  for- 
gets one’s  self  and  bears  this  abandonment 
patiently,  thus  leaving  God  for  God.” 

Blessed  Henry  had  a very  dear  friend  in 
whom  he  confided  much,  and  to  whom  he 
revealed  all  his  secrets,  even  showing  him  the 
Holy  Name  of  Jesus  he  had  pierced  over  his 
heart.  One  day  they  made  an  agreement  that 
whoever  survived  should  say  two  Masses 
every  week  as  long  as  he  lived  for  his  friend’s 
soul.  Many  years  afterward  the  friend  died, 
when  Blessed  Henry,  although  he  prayed  for 
his  soul  every  day,  forgot  his  promise  to  say 
the  Masses.  One  morning,  as  he  was  praying 
in  the  choir,  the  soul  of  his  friend  appeared  to 
him,  and  said,  “ Alas,  my  friend  ! how  soon 
you  have  forgotten  me.”  Blessed  Henry 
answered,  “Nay,  for  I remember  you  daily  in 
my  prayers.”  The  soul  answered:  “This  is 
not  sufficient  ; fulfil  what  you  promised  about 
saying  the  Masses  for  me,  so  that  the  precious 


228 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


blood  of  Christ  may  assuage  the  severity  of 
the  sufferings  of  purgatory,  and  in  this  way 
I may  soon  become  free.”  Blessed  Henry  did 
so,  and  soon  afterwards  it  was  made  known  to 
him  that  his  friend  was  liberated  from  purga- 
tory, and  entered  into  heaven. 

But  it  was  not  by  visions  and  spiritual 
graces  alone  that  Blessed  Henry  became  sanc- 
tified. Every  action  of  his  life,  no  matter  how 
small,  was  part  of  a continual  worship  of  God, 
and  was  rendered  a means  of  uniting  himself 
to  his  Creator,  Whether  he  ate  or  drank,  or 
whatever  he  did,  it  was  all  for  the  honor 
of  God.  The  life  of  a conscientious  relig- 
ious, living  in  his  quiet  and  peaceful  cloister, 
is  a series  of  ordinary  actions,  beautified 
however  and  sanctified  by  a holy  inten- 
tion. Blessed  Henry  has  left  us  a record  of 
how  he  spent  his  days  and  hours.  The  cate- 
chism tells  us  that  we  can,  nay  ought,  to  make 
our  ordinary  actions,  even  our  eating  and 
drinking  holy  ; and  in  the  life  of  this  great  ser- 
vant of  God  we  learn  how  it  may  be  done. 
At  table  Blessed  Henry  placed  himself  in 
spirit  face  to  face  with  Jesus,  and  imagined 
that  his  Divine  Lord  honored  him  by  becom- 


Blessed  Henry  Suso^ 


229 


ing  his  guest.  He  turned  the  eyes  of  his  soul 
unceasingly  to  Him  as  he  ate,  and  often  bent 
his  head  towards  Him  on  the  side  of  His 
sacred  heart.  He  offered  to  Him  his  food  and 
drink,  begging  him  to  bless  them.  When  he 
quenched  his  thirst,  which  he  did  very  spar- 
ingly, he  drank  five  times  in  honor  of  the  five 
wounds  of  our  beloved  Redeemer,  dividing  the 
last  draught  into  two,  in  memory  of  the 
double  stream  of  water  and  blood  which 
flowed  from  our  Saviour’s  side  as  he  hung  on 
the  cross.  He  digested  every  mouthful  with 
some  pious  thought,  but  he  always  ate  the  first 
and  last  piece  in  union  with  the  heart  most 
loving  on  earth,  and  the  most  ardent  seraphim 
in  heaven,  and  besought  God  to  penetrate  his 
soul  with  these  two  loves.  When  he  found 
any  food  distasteful  he  hid  it  in  the  bleeding 
heart  of  Jesus,  and  then  courageously  swal- 
lowed it. 

His  devotion  to  the  holy  mother  of  God 
was  one  of  the  motive  powers  of  his  soul,  and 
there  are  many  examples  of  the  way  he  prac- 
tised it.  But  there  is  one  so  chaiacteristic 
that  it  cannot  be  omitted.  As  he  was  out 
walking  one  day  in  the  country  he  met  a poor 


230 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


woman,  and  the  path  being  too  narrow  for 
both  to  pass  at  the  same  time  he  stepped  out 
of  the  way,  although  in  order  to  do  so  he  had 
to  wet  his  feet.  The  woman  turned  round 
and  said,  “ How  comes  it  that  you,  a priest, 
give  way  to  a poor  woman  like  me,  who  ought 
rather  to  give  way  to  you?”  Blessed  Henry 
answered,  “ For  the  sake  of  the  gentle  Mother 
of  God  in  heaven  it  is  my  custom  to  pay 
deference  to  all  women.”  And  the  woman, 
lifting  up  her  eyes  and  hands  to  heaven,  said, 

May  the  Blessed  Virgin  not  allow  you  to 
leave  this  life  until  you  have  received  some 
special  grace  from  her  whom  3'’ou  honor  in 
us  women.”  And  he  answered,  “ May  the 
pure  maiden  and  Mother  Mary  in  heaven, 
grant  me  this.” 

Blessed  Henry  has  left  us  in  his  autobiog- 
raphy a beautiful  example  of  the  way  in 
which  we  can  celebrate  the  feasts  of  the  great 
mysteries  of  our  holy  religion.  For  the  feast 
of  the  Purification  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
he  prepared  himself  three  days  in  advance  to 
receive  her  in  the  temple.  He  burnt  a triple 
candle  on  those  three  days  in  honor  of  her 
virginity,  humility,  and  motherhood,  and  said 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


231 


the  “ Magnificat  ” three  times  each  day.  On 
the  morning  of  the  feast,  before  the  people 
came  to  the  church,  he  prostrated  himself  in 
front  of  the  high  altar,  and  there  meditated  on 
the  glories  of  Mary  at  that  time  when  she 
carried  her  Divine  Son  into  the  temple.  Then 
in  spirit  he  called  upon  all  pious  souls  to  sing 
the  hymn  “ Inviolata  ” with  her  at  the  door  of 
the  temple.  At  the  last  words  he  prayed 
Mary  to  have  compassion  on  him,  and  then 
rose  and  follov/cd  her  to  the  altar,  carrying  a 
candle  in  his  hands.  When  Mary  offered  her 
Divine  Son  to  Simeon,  he  humbly  asked  her  to 
show  him  her  dear  child,  and  to  trust  the  Babe 
to  him  for  a moment.  At  last  he  returned  the 
child  to  its  mother,  and  remained  in  spirit  with 
her  until  all  was  accomplished. 

He  kept  two  carnivals:  one  by  meditation 
on  the  folly  of  those  who  purchase  for  them- 
selves an  eternity  of  misery  by  indulging  in 
sinful  pleasure,  and  he  said  the  “ Miserere 
as  an  act  of  reparation  for  all  the  dishonor 
offered  to  God  in  the  carnival  time.  The 
other  was  a carnival  of  holy  delight,  in  which 
he  made  merry  with  God,  and  became  full  of 
joy  when  he  thought  of  heaven.  As  a reward 


232 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


for  his  piety  God  granted  him  an  ecstasy,  in 
which  he  heard  the  melodious  voice  of  a youth 
of  twelve,  singing  so  sweetly  that  no  human 
voice  could  compare  with  it.  When  the  song 
ended,  the  youth,  although  invisible,  presented 
Blessed  Henry  with  a basket  of  delicious  fruit 
like  Ltrawberries.  Afterwards,  at  Henry’s 
earnest  desire  he  made  himself  visible : it  was 
our  Divine  Lord  Himself.  He  looked  at 
Henry  very  affectionately,  blessed  him  and 
then  disappeared. 

In  the  month  of  May,  when  young  people 
carried  boughs  of  blossom,  singing  and  danc- 
ing, Henry  chose  the  Holy  Cross  for  his  May 
bough,  thinking  that  neither  the  fields  nor  the 
forests  could  produce  so  beautiful  a tree,  nor 
one  so  laden  with  fruit  or  flowers.  And  as  he 
carried  the  cross  for  a May  bough  he  sang  the 
beautiful  Latin  hymn  from  the  office  of  the 
church,  “Salve  Crux,”  “ Hail,  O holy  cross! 
hail,  glory  of  the  world  ! ” adding,  “ Hail,  heav- 
enly tree  of  eternal  salvation,  on  which  ripens 
the  fruit  of  wisdom  ! ” 

In  the  beginning  of  his  turning  to  God  with 
all  his  heart  he  was  favored  with  many  heav- 
enly consolations,  but  after  a while  God  warned 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


233 


him  that  he  could  not  reach  heaven  except  by 
walking  on  the  rough  way  of  the  cross.  From 
that  time  he  retired  every  morning  into  a cor- 
ner of  the  chapter  room,  to  meditate  on  the 
Passion  of  his  Divine  Saviour.  Commencing 
at  the  last  supper  he  followed  his  Lord  from 
one  place  to  another,  attending  at  his  judg- 
ment, carrying  His  cross  like  Simon  of  Cyrene, 
and  kneeling  to  kiss  the  bloody  footmarks  of 
his  suffering  God.  He  reflected  that  he  ought, 
after  the  example  of  Jesus,  to  be  ready  to  give 
up  everything  for  God  ; his  friends,  his  goods, 
and  enjoyments;  and  that  he  ought  to  tram- 
ple all  honors  under  his  feet.  When  he  saw 
our  Divine  Lord  given  up  to  death  he  saluted 
the  divine  victim,  and  asked  the  grace  to  die 
with  Him.  Then  he  turned  his  thoughts  to 
the  Blessed  Mother,  who  made  so  great  a sac- 
rifice for  us,  and  after  her  sad  farewell  to  her 
Divine  Son  hanging  on  the  cross,  he  tenderly 
consoled  her,  and  led  her  back  to  her  home. 

Meditation  on  the  Passion  of  Jesus  made 
him  practise  most  rigorous  mortifications  and 
penances.  He  began  by  restraining  his  tongue, 
the  most  difficult  penance  one  can  perform. 
He  observed  the  law  of  silence  enjoined  by 


234 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


the  Dominican  rule,  and  for  thirty  years  never 
spoke  at  table  even  outside  the  monastery 
except  once,  when  he  dined  on  board  a ship. 
When  called  to  the  guest  rooms  he  received 
every  one  kindly,  but  quickly  dismissed  them, 
and  having  sent  them  away  consoled,  he  gladly 
returned  to  his  cell.  He  wore  an  iron  chain 
and  a hair  shirt,  which  later  on  in  life  he  re- 
placed by  one  made  of  cords,  in  which  he  fast- 
ened a hundred  and  fifty  iron  points,  so  sharp 
that  his  body  became  covered  with  wounds. 
Before  he  went  to  sleep  he  tied  his  arms  with 
thongs  of  leather,  and  fastened  them  with  a 
padlock;  but  after  some  time  he  left  his  hands 
free,  and  wore  gloves  covered  with  iron  points  ; 
thus  his  hands  were  like  bears’  paws,  that 
scratched  him  if  he  touched  himself  while 
asleep.  He  also  wore  a wooden  cross  on  his 
shoulders,  in  which  he  placed  thirty  nails,  in 
honor  of  the  wounds  and  bruises  our  Lord 
suffered  for  us.  He  disciplined  himself  with  a 
severity  greater  than  a bitter  enemy  could  have 
shown  him.  His  bed  was  a door  on  which  he 
spread  an  old  mat,  only  long  enough  to  reach 
his  knees,  and  his  bolster  was  a sack  of  oats. 
He  usually  lay  down  to  sleep  clothed  just  as 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


235 


he  was  in  the  daytfme,  and  with  all  his  instru- 
ments of  penance  upon  him.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  never  went  near  a fire.  He  took  only 
one  meal  a day,  ate  neither  fish  nor  eggs,  con- 
tenting himself  with  bread,  beans,  and  fruits. 
He  drank  wine  only  once  a year,  on  Easter 
Sunday,  took  but  very  little  water,  and  then 
only  at  dinner,  no  matter  how  thirsty  he  be- 
came. This  he  found  his  greatest  penance. 
One  day,  suffering  much  from  thirst,  he  heard 
an  interior  voice  saying,  “ Remember  how  ter- 
rible was  My  thirst  when  I hung  on  the  cross. 
Although  I am  the  creator  of  all  the  fountains 
of  cool  water  I could  only  obtain  gall  and  vine- 
gar to  quench  My  thirst.  Bear  then  patiently 
the  thirst  you  now  feel  if  you  wishj;o  follow  in 
My  footsteps.” 

When  he  had  practised  all  these  penances  for 
twenty  years,  God  commanded  him  to  abandon 
them  and  to  enter  into  a more  perfect  way,  the 
way  of  spiritual  sufferings.  “ I wish,”  said  our 
Saviour  to  him,  “to  show  you  three  crosses  I 
have  prepared  for  you.  The  first  will  be  this. 
Heretofore  you  have  struck  yourself  with  your 
own  hands,  and  ceased  when  you  took  pity  on 
yourself.  Now  you  will  be  in  the  hands  of 


236 


Blessed  Henry  Siiso. 


others,  without  power  to  defend  yourself.  More- 
over you  will  lose  the  esteem  of  many,  and  this 
will  be  more  painful  than  the  cross  full  of  nails 
you  wore  on  your  back.  You  have  been  adiiiired 
for  your  mortifications,  henceforth  you  will  be 
despised  and  turned  into  ridicule  by  every  one. 
The  second  cross  will  be  this.  Although  you 
have  born  many  cruel  mortifications  you  have 
kept  your  kind  and  loving  heart,  and  have  met 
with  affection  from  very  many  But  just  where 
you  have  found  confidence,  esteem,  and  love 
you  will  meet  with  great  unfaithfulness  ; and  all 
those  who  continue  true  to  you  will  have  to  suf- 
fer for  it.  And  the  last  cross  will  be  this.  Until 
now  you  have  been  like  a child  at  the  breast, 
and  have  Sivum  in  divine  sweetness  like  a fish 
in  the  ocean.  I will  withdraw  my  graces  and 
co'nsolations ; you  will  be  abandoned  by  God 
and  man,  tormented  by  your  friends  as  well  as 
by  your  enemies,  and  everything  you  will  seek 
to  console  yourself  with  will  turn  against 
you. 

But  when  Blessed  Henry,  hearing  these 
words  began  to  tremble,  a voice  within  him 
said,  “ Take  courage ! for  I wall  be  with  you, 
and  make  you  victorious  in  all  your  combats.*’ 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


237 


Still,  when  injured  by  his  own  friends  he  often 
; became  discouraged.  On  one  of  these  occa- 

sions he  heard  this  reproach  in  the  centre  of  his 
i.  soul:  “Did  / turn  away  my  head  when  men 

I injured  Me  and  spat  in  My  face?”  Then  he 

went  to  find  those  who  had  ill-treated  him,  and 
spoke  sweetly  to  them.  The  heaviest  tempta- 
tions he  had  to  bear  were  those  against  faith, 
the  deep  sadness  he  felt  for  eight  years, 
and  the  fear  that  after  all  he  would  be 
damned. 

God  did  not  wish  that  this  holy  and  fervent 
'''  man  should  hide  his  talents  in  obscurity  He 

; sent  him  to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 

but  tried  him  as  before  in  the  crucible  of  suf- 
fering In  the  town  of  Constance  there  was  a 
\ crucifix  of  the  exact  size,  it  was  said,  of  our 

L Divine  Lord.  One  day  during  Lent  fresh  blood 

: was  seen  to  fall  from  the  wound  in  the  side. 

>'  Blessed  Henry  went  to  see  it,  and  took  some  of 

I the  blood  on  his  finger  to  examine  it.  The 

^ bystanders  asked  his  opinion  whether  it  was  a 

w true  miracle.  He  said  he  could  not  decide. 

K Then  his  enemies  spread  about  the  report  that 

B he  had  cut  his  finger  and  pretended  that  the 

B blood  had  come  from  the  crucifix,  to  gain 


238  Blessed  Henry  Suso, 

money  from  the  people.  This  calumny  spread 
abroad  into  the  whole  country.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Constance  became  embittered  against 
him,  and  for  fear  of  his  life  he  was  obliged  to 
flee  in  the  darkness  of  the  night.  His  enemies 
offered  a large  reward  to  any  one  who  would 
take  him,  alive  or  dead.  When  any  of  his 
friends  dared  to  defend  him  they  were  quickly 
silenced,  and  they  thought  it  prudent  to  hold 
their  peace.  A pious  lady  of  the  city  advised 
him  to  draw  up  a legal  document  asserting 
his  innocence , but  he  said,  “ Good  lady ! if  I 
had  no  more  to  suffer  than  this  I would  will- 
ingly do  what  you  advise  ; but  I prefer  to  trust 
myself  to  God  alone,  for  my  whole  life  is  one 
long  suffering.” 

When  he  went  to  the  Netherlands  to  assist  at 
a chapter  of  the  order  he  found  a new  cross 
awaiting  him.  He  was  formally  accused  before 
his  superiors  of  having  written  books  fulkof 
heretical  doctrine,  and  was  severely  repri- 
manded, and  threatened  with  punishment, 
although  he  was  entirely  innocent.  Yet  more 
was  in  store  for  him.  On  his  way  back  he  was 
seized  with  a violent  fever.  An  abscess  formed 
near  his  heart,  and  his  state  became  so  grave 


Blessed  Henry  Siiso.  239 

that  his  companions  believed  that  he  was  on 
the  point  of  death. 

One  night,  which  he  passed  in  a strange 
monastery,  he  could  not  sleep  for  thinking  of 
his  sorrows,  and  lovingly  complained  to  God. 
And  it  seemed  to  him  that  his  cell  became 
filled  with  legions  of  angels  who  sang  sweet 
songs  to  console  him  ; and  as  they  sang  one 
angel  came  near  him  and  said,  “ Why  do  you 
not  sing  with  us?”  Sighing,  Blessed  Henry 
made  answer,  “ Do  you  not  know  how  much  I 
am  suffering?  did  you  ever  know  a dying 
man  to  sing  ? Formerly  I did  sing,  and  joy- 
fully too,  but  now  all  I wish  for  is  to  die.” 
The  angel  answered,  “ Be  strong  and  do  man- 
fully. You  will  not  die  yet,  you  will  live,  and 
then  you  will  sing  such  a song  that  God  will 
be  glorified  by  it,  and  many  a sufferer  will  be 
consoled.”  In  a moment  Blessed  Henry’s  eyes 
were  filled  with  tears,  the  abscess  opened,  and 
he  was  cured. 

But  another  bitter  trial  befell  him.  His 
sister,  a nun,  led  away  by  love  for  company, 
fell  into  grievous  sin,  and  overcome  by  shame 
fled  from  her  convent.  On  his  return  Blessed 
Henry  was  told  of  it,  and  went  about  as  if  out 


240 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


of  his  mind.  He  asked  advice  from  the 
Fathers,  who  all  repulsed  him,  and  seemed  as 
if  ashamed  of  him.  He  did  not  lose  courage 
however,  and  set  off  to  search  for  the  lost 
sheep  and  found  her  in  a cottage.  When  he 
saw  her  he  fell  fainting  at  her  feet,  from 
emotion ; but  having  come  to  himself  again, 
he  embraced  her  and  conjured  her  to  abandon 
her  sin,  and  by  his  kind  and  loving  entreaties 
led  her  back  again  to  a convent  of  strict 
observance,  where  by  penance  and  prayer  she 
made  amends  for  the  scandal  she  had  given, 
led  a saintly  life,  and  died  a holy  death. 

In  truth,  he  had  so  many  crosses  to  bear, 
and  so  much  to  suffer  that  when  they  ceased 
for  a time,  as  sometimes  happened,  he  used  to 
say  that  all  was  going  badly  with  him. 

One  day  as  he  was  praying,  he  begged  God 
to  make  known  to  him  what  special  graces  are 
fjranted  to  those  who  suffer  much  for  His 
sake.  He  was  answered  in  a vision,  “ Learn 
that  all  my  servants  who  are  dead  to  them- 
selves and  risen  again  with  me,  enjoy  three 
special  graces:  First,  All  they  wish  for  I grant 
to  their  prayers.  Second,  I give  them  an 
inward  peace  which  neither  angels  nor  men 


24 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 

can  take  from  them.  The  last  grace  is  an 
abundance  of  sweetness  and  divine  caresses, 
so  that  they  become  one  with  Me.” 

On  account  of  his  eminent  wisdom,  great 
virtue,  and  a particular  gift  of  converting  sin- 
ners he  was  sent  to  preach  in  Germany.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  celebrated  preachers 
of  his  time.  His  powerful  words  moved  every 
heart,  turned  the  most  vicious  from  their  evil 
ways,  and  persuaded  them  to  embrace  a vir- 
tuous life.  Touron,  in  his  “ Lives  of  cele- 
brated Dominicans,”  says  that  Blessed  Henry 
preached  thirty-seven  years,  from  1328  to  1365. 
God  granted  him  the  grace  of  working  miracles 
during  his  apostolic  missions.  Preaching  one 
day  at  Cologne  his  face  became  thrice  as  bril- 
liant as  the  sun,  and  all  who  saw  it  were  filled 
with  astonishment.  He  restored  a number  of 
sick  people  to  perfect  health,  for  every  grace 
he  asked  from  God  was  granted.  But  he  did 
not  enjoy  the  pure  delights  of  the  apostolate 
without  experiencing  his  usual  trials.  Having 
learnt  that  a woman  who  was  under  his  spirit- 
ual direction,  whom  he  believed  he  had  con- 
verted from  an  evil  life,  was  secretly  continu- 
ing her  sinful  course,  he  felt  obliged  to  discon- 


242  Blessed  Henry  Suso 

tinue  giving  her  alms  as  he  had  formerly  done. 
This  wicked  woman  then  publicly  declared 
that  Blessed  Henry  was  father  to  her  child. 
One  of  his  friends  took  the  child  to  him  : he 
received  it  into  his  arms.  The  babe  smiled  at 
him : he  caressed  it  and  said,  “ Poor  child  ! 
your  rfather  will  not  acknowledge  you,  and 
your  cruel  mother  has  abandoned  you.  God 
wishes  me  to  be  a father  to  you  ; I am  glad  to 
obey.  You  shall  be  God’s  child  and  mine. 
May  God  bless  you  ! may  the  angels  protect 
you  ! for  God’s  honor  I will  do  all  I can  for 
you.”  And  he  adopted  it  from  that  day.  In 
course  of  tim.e  the  wicked  mother,  ashamed  of 
herself,  went  away.  Nevertheless  the  calumny 
was  believed.  The  Master  General  of  the 
order  heard  of  it,  and  this  was  Blessed 
Henry’s  cruelest  suffering.  He  was  tempted 
to  despair,  and  began  to  complain  to  the  ten- 
der heart  of  Jesus,  who  in  due  time  made  his 
innocence  known.  The  wicked  woman  came 
to  an  evil  end,  and  those  who  had  believed  the 
calumny  and  had  persecuted  him  died  without 
the  sacraments.  Among  his  enemies  was  a 
prelate,  whose  soul  appeared  after  death  to 
Blessed  Henry  and  told  him  that  God  had 


Blessed  Henry  Suso, 


243 


taken  him  from  earth  on  this  account,  and  that 
he  had  to  suffer  a long  time  in  purgatory  for 
having  persecuted  him. 

He  was  once  elected  Prior.  This  is  an 
office  full  of  grave  responsibility ; but  as  th^ 
monastery  was  heavily  burdened  with  debt  it 
was  more  especially  so  at  that  time.  In  the 
first  chapter  he  held  he  declared  that  all  must 
confide  in  the  promise  made  by  Saint  Dominic 
as  he  was  dying,  never  to  abandon  his  children 
in  their  needs.  He  ordered  special  prayers  to 
be  said,  and  a Mass  sung  next  day  in  honor  of 
Saint  Dom.inic.  Some  of  the  Fathers  mur- 
mured, and  one  said,  “See  what  a foolish  man 
this  Prior  is ! Does  he  imagine  that  God  will 
send  down  meat  and  drink  from  heaven 
The  Father  to  whom  he  spoke  said,  “ He  is 
not  the  only  fool.  We  are  all  fools  for  having 
elected  him  Prior,  though  we  well  knew  that 
he  does  nothing  but  gape  up  to  heaven.” 
The  next  morning  while  the  Mass  was  being 
sung,  a pious  canon,  one  of  Blessed  Henry’s 
friends,  came  to  the  monastery  and  gave  him  a 
large  sum  of  money  ; and  during  the  whole  time 
he  was  Prior  the  community  wanted  for  noth- 
ing, and  the  debt  was  completely  cleared  off. 


244 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


After  having  labored  holily  in  the  service  of 
God’s  holy  church;  having  made  meditation 
on  the  passion  and  death  of  Christ  his  daily 
task;  having  loved  God  with  the  purest  and 
most  disinterested  love ; borne  solitude,  fast- 
ing, penances,  and  temptations  ; having  been 
defamed  and  slandered  by  everyone,  friends  as 
well  as  enemies  ; having,  in  one  word,  been  con- 
formed to  the  crucified  figure  of  his  Saviour, 
Blessed  Henry,  despising  life^and  all  on  fire 
with  desire  of  heaven,  died,  in  the  midst 
of  universal  regret,  in  the  monastery  of 
Saint  Paul  in  Ulm,  rich  in  merits  and  fortified 
with  all  the  sacraments  of  the  church,  January 
25th,  1365. 

His  holy  body  was  buried  in  the  cloister  of 
the  same  monastery,  and  many  miracles  were 
worked  there.  The  Dominican  Order  asked 
his  canonization  at  the  same  time  that  it 
petitioned  that  of  Saint  Thomas  Aquinas.  In 
the  year  1613,  two  hundred  and  forty  years 
after  his  death,  some  laborers  digging  the 
foundations  of  a new  building,  found  his  body, 
clothed  in  the  habit  of  the  order,  incorrupt, 
and  emitting  a sweet  smell.  The  Burgo- 
rnaster  ordered  the  tomb  to  be  closed,  and*  all 


Blessed  Henry  Suso. 


245 


trace  of  it  has  been  lost.  But,  while  the  work- 
men were  absent,  a devout  person  descended 
into  the  tomb  and  cut  off  some  pieces  from  the 
cappa  and  scapular,  and  for  many  years  these 
holy  relics  were  piously  preserved.  Pope 
Gregory  XVI.  gave  permission  to  the  Domini- 
can Order  to  keep  his  feast  on  the  second  day 
of  March  every  year. 

Blessed  Henry  wrote  several  very  valuable 
spiritual  works,  which  are  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.  The  principal  one,  which  was  as  well 
knovvn  in  the  middle  ages  as  the  “ Imitation  of 
Christ”  is  in  our  times,  is  the  “Little  Book  of 
Eternal  Wisdom,”  formally  called,  “ The  Clock 
of  Eternal  Wisdom.”  It  is  a collection  of 
delightful  teachings  on  the  various  phases  of 
spiritual  life.  He  also  wrote  a “ Treatise  bn 
the  Union  of  the  Soul  with  God,”  “The 
Colloquy  of  the  Seven  Rocks,”  in  allegorical 
form,  some  “Spiritual  Discourses,”  “Medita- 
tions on  the  Three  Hours  of  Agony,”  “ A 
soliloquy  on  the  Sorrows  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  and  on  the  dolours  of  Jesus  and  Mary,” 
“ A Spiritual  Exercise  on  the  Eternal  Wis- 
dom,” “ Sentences  from  the  Holy  Fathers,” 
and  the  “ Office  of  the  Eternal  Wisdom.” 


246  Blessed  Henry  Suso, 

His  letters  have  also  been  collected  and  pub- 
lished. The  writings  of  his  spiritual  daughter, 
Sister  Elizabeth  Staglin,  of  the  convent  of 
Saint  Dominic  of  Thoecz,  near  Winterhiir  are 
extant.  They  consist  of  his  life,  written  by 
himself,  and  other  remembrances  of  him. 
All  his  works,  except  the  “ Little  Book  of 
Eternal  Wisdom”  were  written  in  German ; 
that  he  wrote  in  Latin.  They  have  been 
translated  into  Latin,  French,  Italian,  and 
some  of  them  into  English.  Surius  says  of 
them,  “ I have  read  many  books  which  lead 
sinners  to  shed  tears  for  their  sins  and  cause 
them  sincerely  to  repent,  but  I have  never 
found  any  among  them  which  so  powerfully 
excite  the  heart  to  higher  perfection  of  the 
spiritual  life,  nor  so  calculated  to  touch  the 
hardest  hearts,  as  those  of  Blessed  Henry 
Suso,  provided  that  one  reads  them  care- 
fully. 

Prayer. 

Ant,  All  wisdom  is  from  the  Lord  God,  and 
hath  ever  been  with  Him,  and  is  before  all 
time. 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Henry. 


Blessed  Henry  Suso.  247 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  didst  make  Blessed  Henry, 
Thy  confessor,  wonderful  for  charity  and 
bodily  mortification,  grant  that  in  all  our 
works  we  may  have  the  marks  of  the  crucified 
Christ  upon  us,  and  ever  bear  his  love  in  our 
hearts.  Through  the  same  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


k 


■ s 


BLESSED  JORDAN  OF  PISA. 


BLESSED  JORDAN  OF  PISA. 

MARCH  6. 

Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa  was  born  about  the 
middle  of  the  thirteenth  century;  but  where, 
or  in  what  year,  is  not  known.  Neither  have 
we  any  details  of  his  youth.  But  from  the  fol- 
lowing passage  in  one  of  his  sermons,  it  is  con- 
jectured that  he  was  studying  at  the  University 
of  Paris  in  the  year  1276.  In  a sermon  on  the 
saints  in  heaven  he  said:  “Consider  a man 
who  has  gained  the  friendship  of  the  King  of 
France;  what  honor  is  there  he  will  not  re- 
ceive? I have  seen  such  a man  with  my  own 
eyes.  A man  of  mean  and  low  extraction 
learnt  how  to  enter  into  friendship  with  the 
king.  The  whole  court,  all  the  barons,  bowed 
before  him,  gave  him  incredible  respect  and 
honor,  merely  because  he  was  the  king’s  friend. 
But,  “added  the  holy  preacher,  the  kings  of 
this  world  are  only  worms  in  God’s  sight.  If 
then  they  who  obtain  their  friendship  receive 


252 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa, 


such  honors,  who  can  tell  the  honor  and  glory 
which  God  will  grant  His  friends?”  These 
words  evidently  refer  to  Peter  de  la  Brosse, 
who  from  being  hairdresser  to  King  Louis, 
became  the  confidential  friend  of  King  Philip 
the  Hardy. 

Blessed  Jordan  entered  the  Dominican 
Order  at  Pisa  in  1280.  Having  manifested 
great  talent  he  was  sent  to  complete  his  studies 
in  the  University  of  Paris,  where  he  attended 
the  lectures  of  the  most  renowned  masters. 

On  his  return  to  Italy  he  taught  philosophy 
and  theology  in  several  Dominican  monaster- 
ies, and  at  length  returned  to  Pisa,  at  that 
time  the  principal  house  of  studies  of  the  prov- 
ince. Here,  as  elsewhere,  he  became  remark- 
able as  a profound  theologian  as  well  as  a good 
religious.  We  next  find  him  preaching  in 
Florence;  and  in  the  Dominican  Provincial 
chapter  held  in  Rieti,  in  1305,  he  was  appoint- 
ed first  lector  or  professor.  He  held  that 
office  three  years,  and  raised  the  studies  to  so 
high  a degree  of  excellence  that  the  monastery 
of  Santa  Maria  Novella  became  famous  through- 
out Italy. 

At  the  same  time  that  he  taught  in  the 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa,  253 

Dominican  schools  of  theology  he  gave  him- 
self with  great  energy  to  preaching.  He  was 
in  heart  and  soul  a true  Dominican,  sowing  the 
seed  of  the  word  all  around  him.  Without 
preaching,”  he  once  said  in  a sermon,  “ who 
knows  into  what  darkness  and  heresies  we 
should  fall ! We  should  be  like  the  Greeks, 
invaded  by  multitudes  of  errors,  because  they 
have  no  preachers.  We  should  become  like 
the  Turks,  Tartars,  and  pagans.”  In  a pan- 
egyric on  Saint  Dominic,  after  praising  his  he- 
roic virtues,  the  greatest  praise  he  could  give 
him  was  for  having  instituted  the  Dominican 
order,  thus  having  procured  for  the  people  the 
advantage  of  an  order  of  preachers  ; and  he 
often  said  that  Saint  Dorginic  deserved  to  be 
ranked  next  to  the  Apostles  and  to  Saint  Augus- 
tine. In  another  sermon,  he  said,  “One  cannot 
express  how  useful  this  servant  of  God,  Dominic, 
was  to  the  church.  Before  him  there  were 
scarcely  any  preachers:  to  day  the  world  is  full 
of  them.  Hardly  any  schools  of  theology  ex- 
isted before  his  time;  at  the  present  they  fill 
the  whole  of  Christendom.  Every  monastery 
possesses  its  own  school,  a most  useful  thing. 
Before  him  only  Bishops  announced  the  word  of 


254  Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa, 

God;  it  was  their  own  proper  office.  Priest, 
monks  and  hermits  preached  by  example. 
That  was  why  the  Pope  was  astonished 
when  Saint  Dominic  went  to  make  known 
to  him  his  plans  of  establishing  an  order 
of  preachers.  “What!”  thought  the  Vicar 
of  Christ, “ does  he  wish  to  found  an  order 
of  which  every  member  is  a Bishop ! ” 
and  he  hesitated  to  give  his  approbation. 
But  the  following  night  he  saw  in  a dream 
the  church  of  Saint  John  Lateran  in  dan- 
ger of  falling  into  ruins,  but  upheld  by  Saint 
Dominic.  Understanding  from  this  the  benefit 
which  the  servant  of  God  would  confer  on  the 
whole  church  by  his  preaching  and  by  that  of 
his  children,  he  granted  the  approbation  which 
had  been  asked  from  the  Apostolic  See.” 

Nature  and  grace  alike  had  formed  Jordan  for 
a great  preacher.  Full  of  sound  Catholic  doc- 
trine, well  read  in  classic  literature,  versed  in  an- 
cient and  modern  languages,  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures familiar  to  him,  and  with  the  greatest 
intricacies  of  theology  at  his  finger  ends,  ener- 
getic and  zealous,  it  would  have  been  strange  if 
he  had  not  succeeded.  Like  all  the  saints  and 
learned  men  of  the  Dominican  Order  he  con- 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa, 


255 


stantly  and  most  lovingly  studied  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  especially  the  Epistles  of  Saint 
Paul.  “ The  more  I read  them,”  he  said,  the 
more  delight  and  joy  I find  for  my  soul  in  them. 
Saint  Thomas  Aquinas  professed  such  respect 
for  them  that  when  he  saw  the  Book  of  the 
Gospels  in  the  sacristy  he  knelt  down  and 
kissed  it,  and  always  showed  it  the  greatest 
respect.  The  epistles  are  so  full  of  delight,  so 
sweet,  and  at  the  same  time  so  profound,  that 
they  are  truly  marvels.  There  is  not  a word  in 
them  that  is  not  like  a burning  coal,  capable  of 
inspiring  us  with  holy  ardor.  This  Apostle 
delighted  in  recalling  Jesus  Christ  to  mind,  and 
I find  that  he  has  mentioned  him  no  less  than 
five  hundred  and  thirty-two  times.”  Not  con- 
tent with  reading  the  Holy  Scripture  assidu- 
ously, Blessed  Jordan  used  his  extraordinary 
memory  by  learning  them  by  heart.  “ He  knew 
by  heart,”  says  Father  Dominic  de  Peccioli, 
in  his  chronicle  of  the  Dominican  Monastery 
of  Pisa,  “the  Breviary,  the  Missal,  the  greater 
part  of  the  Bible  with  the  marginal  commen- 
tary, the  second  part  of  the  Summa  of  Saint 
Thomas  Aquinas,  and  many  other  things.” 

Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa  then  was  very  learned. 


256  Blessed  Jorda7t  of  Pisa, 

But  learning  alone  will  never  make  a preacher ; 
holiness  must  accompany  and  chasten  human 
knowledge  in  him  who  desires  to  preach  the 
word  of  God  worthily.  He  was  as  holy  as  he 
was  learned.  His  confidence  in  the  goodness 
of  God  and  in  the  power  of  prayer  was  un- 
bounded. His  was  the  faith  which  moves  moun- 
tains. In  one  of  his  sermons  he  says,  “ when 
you  pray  thus  I guarantee  you,  by  the  promise 
of  Christ,  by  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by  all  the 
Saints,  and  on  my  soul,  that  you  will  obtain  all 
you  ask.  The  heavens  and  the  earth  would 
perish  sooner  than  your  prayers  would  not  be 
heard.”  The  goodness  of  God  was  one  of  his 
favorite  subjects.  One  could  preach  thirty 
sermons,”  he  said,  on  the  blessings  which 
God  showers  down  on  us  even  in  the  natural 
order.” 

Towards  Saint  Dominic,  the  glorious  foun- 
der of  the  religious  order  he  had  entered,  he 
had  an  exceedingly  strong  and  earnest  devotion . 
Saint  Dominic’s  name  was  always  on  his  lips, 
and  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  praising 
him  and  proposing  his  virtues  for  imitation. 
But  what  can  be  said  to  describe  his  devotion 
to  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God!  The  chronicle 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa,  257 

of  the  monastery,  so  scanty  in  details  of  his  life, 
is  full  of  mention  of  his  devotion  towards  the 
immaculate  Queen  of  Heaven.  It  tells  us  that 
it  was  invariably  Blessed  Jordan  who  was  the 
first  to  commence  the  office  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  when  it  was  said  in  the  dormitory,  and 
that  he  said  it  in  a voice  so  fervent,  loud,  and 
clear,  and  so  piously,  that  every  one  was  filled 
with  the  same  fervor  he  himself  felt.  The 
Blessed  Virgin  rewarded  his  filial  devotion  by 
granting  him  many  favors.  One  day,  seated 
in  the  refectory,  he  saw  the  Queen  of  Heaven 
escorted  by  angels,  carrying  food  to  her  devoted 
children,  the  sons  of  Saint  Dominic.  In  an  ex- 
cess of  goodness  she  served  at  table.  Those 
hands  that  had  in  so  many  ways  served  her 
divine  Son  when  He  was  on  earth  now  gave 
food  to  her  spiritual  sons,  the  Friars.  One  can 
easily  imagine  how  Blessed  Jordan’s  heart  was 
inflamed  with  gratitude  at  the  sight  of  so  great 
a favor  from  God’s  own  mother. 

During  his  labors  of  teaching  and  preaching 
he  did  not  relax  the  fervor  and  regularity  of 
religious  discipline  and  monastic  observance. 
Preaching  once  on  the  Last  Judgment  he  was 
led  to  speak  of  the  rigor  of  observance  in  his 


258  Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa, 

beloved  monastery.  ‘‘You  secular  people  lit- 
tle know  what  the  judgment  is.  We  religious 
know  it  well.  If  you  commit  a sin,  grave  sin 
although  it  may  be,  you  are  neither  corrected 
nor  chastised  ; no  one  will  upbraid  you.  But 
we  are  punished  for  the  least  fault,  and  appear 
in  judgment.  Thus  he  who  is  conscious  of 
being  guilty  of  some  omission  feels  great  fear 
when  he  hears  the  chapter  bell  ring,  for  he 
knows  that  he  goes  there  to  be  accused.  A 
father  of  the  order,  forty  years  of  age,  once 
said  to  me,  “ I do  not  feel  in  fault,  but  I am 
seized  with  vivid  fear  when  I hear  the  chapter 
bell  ring.” 

Naturally  eloquent,  solid  in  doctrine,  rich  in 
virtue,  beloved  by  the  most  holy  Virgin,  how 
could  Blessed  Jordan  fail  to  be  a truly  great 
preacher?  He  made  his  voice  heard  in  many 
Italian  provinces,  and  as  he  was  in  Germany 
in  1301  it  is  thought  that  he  preached  there 
too.  But  it  was  chiefly  in  Florence  that  he 
gained  his  greatest  renown  as  a preacher.  He 
preached  there  as  often  as  five  times  a day,  in 
the  churches  and  in  the  public  squares.  He 
often  commenced  to  treat  a subject  in  the 
morning  in  one  church,  continued  it  in  another 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa, 


259 


in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  concluded  it  in 
a third  in  the  evening.  The  Florentines  fol- 
lowed him  from  church  to  church  ; some  of 
them  took  notes  of  his  sermons  which  have 
been  preserved.  They  show  him  to  have  been 
a preacher  of  simple  but  powerful  and  instruc- 
tive discourses.  He  preached  Christ  crucified, 
and  founded  his  sermons  on  doctrine,  and  illus- 
trated his  subject  with  choice  examples  from 
Holy  Scripture,  and  anecdotes  from  the  lives 
of  the  saints.  He  adopted  the  custom  newly 
introduced,  of  preaching  not  in  Latin  but  in  his 
native  Tuscan.  He  was  a contemporary  of 
Dante,  and  contributed  much  to  perfect  the 
Tuscan  language.  His  sermons  are  regarded 
as  a precious  treasure  of  the  language  of  the 
period. 

He  would  have  cared  little,  however,  to  be 
considered  one  of  the  founders  of  modern  Ital- 
ian. All  he  wished  was  to  labor  for  the  con- 
version of  sinners.  It  was  for  that  he  studied 
and  preached.  And  he  was  bound  to  succeed. 
If  zeal  is  often  sufficient,  talent  and  zeal  to- 
gether are  sure  of  success.  But  when  God, 
setting  aside  the  ordinary  laws  of  nature 
worked  miracles  to  show  his  approbation  of 


26o  Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa.. 

his  servant’s  preaching,  then  the  effect  was  im- 
mense. This  was  often  the  case.  One  day  a 
brilliant  red  cross  appeared  on  his  brow.  Every 
one  saw  it,  and  all  were  filled  with  amazement. 
The  effect  of  his  sermons  in  Florence  was  truly 
marvellous.  Public  morality  was  completely 
changed.  Thousands  of  evil  livers  abandoned 
their  sinful  habits.  Immodest  women  became 
models  of  chastity,  enemies  were  reconciled 
and  became  fast  friends.  All  this  was  lasting, 
for  he  took  care  to  ensure  their  perseverance, 
by  pointing  out  to  them  the  means  of  perse- 
verance ; such  as  hearing  daily  mass,  receiving 
the  sacraments  often,  morning  and  evening 
prayer,  pious  reading,  the  practise  of  calling 
the  presence  of  God  to  their  minds,  the  remem- 
brance of  the  vanity  of  this  world,  the  eter- 
nity which  awaits  us,  the  pains  of  hell  and  the 
joy  of  heaven.  Not  a few  of  his  penitents  and 
disciples,  following  his  saintly  advice,  became 
noted  for  sanctity.  One  of  his  disciples  was 
Blessed  Silvester  of  Valdiseve,  a Camaldulese 
monk.  Blessed  Jordan  often  preached  for  two 
hours,  and  was  frequently  completely  ex- 
hausted at  the  end  of  his  sermons.  Blessed  Sil- 
vester, whose  name  in  .the  world  was  Ventura, 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa.  26 1 

taking  compassion  on  him  waited  at  the  foot 
of  the  stairs  of  the  pulpit  to  offer  him  some 
wine  to  refresh  him  after  his  exertions.  They 
soon  became  united  in  the  bonds  of  a holy 
friendship  ; and  in  time  Ventura  entered  as  a 
lay  brother  into  the  Camaldulese  monastery 
at  Florence. 

Blessed  Jordan  founded  several  confraterni- 
ties in  Pisa,  one  of  them,  that  of  the  Holy 
Saviour,  has  lasted  till  our  own  days,  preserv- 
ing its  primitive  constitutions. 

In  spite  of  the  success  he  met  with  he  re- 
mained untouched  by  pride.  Humility  filled 
his  heart  and  animated  all  his  actions;  and  he 
never  lost  an  opportunity  of  showing  his  utter 
contempt  of  the  world.  One  day  as  he  and 
several  Dominicans  were  walking  on  the  high 
road  they  saw  a strange  and  unusual  sight ; 
perfect  happiness  in  the  midst  of  profound 
misery;  a poor  man  half  naked  gayly  singing 
as  he  went  along.  He  drank  water  from  the 
wells,  and  ate  dry  bread  given  him  in  charity, 
and  was  perfectly  content.  Blessed  Jordan 
said  to  his  companions,  “ Do  you  see  this  man 
contrary  to  what  would  appear  he  possesses 
jewels  so  precious  that  a king  cannot  have 


262  Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa. 

them,  and  which  princes  would  willingly  give 
a hundred  thousand  crowns  to  possess.” 
What  are  these  precious  stones  ? ” asked  the 
Fathers.  “One,”  said  Blessed  Jordan,  “is 
Security.  This  poor  man  eats  and  drinks  with- 
out fearing  danger,  he  does  not  dread  poison 
in  his  food.  This  is  one  precious  stone  which 
a prince  would  willingly  pay  dear  for  if  he 
could  buy  it  with  money.  Another  precious 
stone  is  that  this  poor  man  has  no  money,  and 
no  one  wishes  him  evil  ; on  the  contrary,  a 
prince  is  surrounded  by  enemies  who  seek  to 
kill  him.  These  are  two  precious  stones.  I 
could  mention  many  others,  and  oh  ! how  pre- 
cious they  are  ! how  beautiful  ! This  poor 
man  possesses  them,  princes  can  only  long  for 
them.” 

In  131 1 Blessed  Jordan  was  sent  to  Paris,  by 
the  Master  General  of  the  Dominican  Order,  to 
teach  theology  in  the  famous  monastery  of 
Saint  James  in  that  city;  but  he  was  taken 
sick  when  he  arrived  at  Piacenza,  and  died 
there  August  19th,  13 1 1.  He  had  been  a Do- 
minican thirty-one  years.  As  soon  as  the  news 
of  his  death  reached  Pisa  many  of  the  princi- 
pal inhabitants  went  to  Piacenza  to  carry  back 


Blessed  Jordan  of  Pisa,  263 

his  body  to  the  city  where  he  had  lived  and 
labored  so  long.  He  was  buried  in  the  church 
of  the  Dominican  monastery  at  Pisa,  near  the 
altar  of  Saint  Peter  Martyr.  His  relics  re- 
mained there  until  1580,  when  they  were  trans- 
lated to  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary, 
and  in  1686  they  were  finally  translated  to  the 
Rosary  Altar.  His  cultus  was  formally  ap- 
proved by  Pope  Gregory  XVI. 

Prayer, 

Ant,  Let  all  who  hope  in  Thee,  O Lord,  be 
glad,  for  Thou  hast  blessed  the  just  man.  Thou 
hast  crowned  him  with  the  shield  of  Thy  good 
will. 

V,  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Jordan. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray, 

O God,  who  madest  Blessed  Jordan,  Thy 
confessor,  a minister  meet  for  preaching  Thy 
Gospel,  grant  that,  in  imitation  of  him,  we 
may  do  the  works  which  Thou  ordainest,  and 
so  gain  the  fruit  of  eternal  salvation  through 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


BLESED  PETER  GEREMIA. 


/ 


BLESSED  PETER  GEREMIA. 


MARCH  10. 

The  order  of  Friar  Preachers,  instituted  for 
the  good  of  the  Church,  never  produced  so 
many  great  men  and  saints  as  in  the  times  of 
her  greatest  need.  During  the  great  western 
schism,  which  lasted  forty  years,  our  order 
gave  to  the  church  three  saints,  famous  for 
all  times,  Saint  Vincent  Ferrer,  Saint  Anto- 
ninus of  Florence,  and  that  truly  wonderful 
woman,  Saint  Catharine  of  Sienna.  But  the 
order  also  rejoiced  in  numbers  of  others,  whose 
lives  although  not  less  holy,  are  not  as  widely 
known.  Among  then  must  be  placed  Blessed 
Peter  Geremia,  the  subject  of  our  present 
sketch. 

He  was  a native  of  Palermo,  in  Sicily.  His 
parents  were  illustrious  for  nobility  and  piety. 
Andouin  Geremia,  his  father,  was  Fiscal- 
Procurator  to  Mary,  Queen  of  Sicily,  and  his 
mother,  Constanzia,  was  of  the  noble  family  of 


268 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia. 


the  Neri  of  Genoa.  Having  been  born  on  the 
feast  of  Saint  Peter’s  chains,  August  ist,  1381, 
he  was  give  the  name  of  Peter  at  baptism. 
As  soon  as  he  could  speak  his  pious  mother 
taught  him  how  to  pray,  and  being  accustomed 
to  make  a daily  visit  to  the  Dominican  church, 
she  caused  him  to  be  carried  there  also  to 
form  him  to  habits  of  piety  in  youth.  Little 
Peter  did  not  disappoint  his  mother’s  pious 
expectations,  and  learnt  to  love  and  fear  God 
from  the  earliest  dawn  of  reason.  He  made 
as  much  progress  in  the  rudiments  of  learning 
as  he  did  in  piety.  After  mastering  grammar, 
rhetoric,  and  logic,  his  parents,  believing  that 
God  had  given  them  this  child  to  raise  the 
prestige  of  their  family,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
sent  him  to  study  law  in  the  University  of 
Bologna.  He  soon  took  the  lead  among  the 
students,  and  when  the  regent  of  studies  was 
obliged  to  be  absent,  he  requested  Peter  to 
take  his  place.  In  this  position,  so  trying  to  a 
young  man,  he  acquitted  himself  with  un- 
doubted success. 

Having  completed  his  studies  he  prepared 
himself  to  take  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 
But  one  of  those  unforeseen  circumstances 


Blessed^ Peter  Geremiu,  269 

which  completely  change  a man’s  life,  now 
happened  to  him.  One  night  he  heard  a tap- 
ping at  his  bedroom  window.  It  could  not  be 
robbers,  for  he  was  in  the  third  story.  What 
was  it  ? But  while  he  was  wondering  at  so 
strange  a thing  he  heard  the  same  sound 
repeated,  louder  than  before.  He  was  seized 
with  fear;  his  blood  froze  in  his  veins.  Not 
daring  to  arise  he  called  out,  “ Who  is  knock- 
ing there?”  Immediately  he  heard  loud  cries 
of  weeping,  and  a sad  and  tremulous  voice 
said,  “ I am  the  soul  of  your  kinsman,”  men- 
tioning the  name.  “After  having  taken  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Law  I practised  at  the 
bar,  where  I exercised  the  office  of  Advocate 
with  much  success,  and  gained  a high  repu- 
tation. Blind  and  unfortunate  man  that  I 
was,  to  gain  wealth  and  fame,  I undertook, 
against  my  conscience,  to  defend  unjust 
causes.  Before  the  awful  tribunal  of  God  I 
found  myself  without  any  advocate,  and  hav- 
ing nothing  in  my  defence  I was  condemned 
to  eternal  pain.  I am  damned,  and  damned 
for  all  eternity!  But  before  justice  casts  me 
into  hell,  God  has  sent  me  to  warn  you.  Fly 
from  the  tribunals  of  men  if  you  desire  to 


Blessed  Peter  Geremta, 


270 

be  acquitted  before  the  awful  tribunal  of 
God.” 

Thoroughly  alarmed  Peter  entered  into 
serious  reflection  on  the  dangers  of  the  life  he 
was  about  to  adopt,  and  shuddered  when  he 
thought  of  his  relative’s  sad  fate  in  the  same 
state  of  life.  “ Why  should  I risk  the  salvation 
of  my  soul  and  endanger  my  happiness  in 
eternity  for  imaginary  honors,  passing  pleas- 
ures, and  hollow  deceits?”  he  said  to  himself. 
“ Oh  Peter ! God  has  sent  a dead  man  to 
warn  thee  of  the' dangers  thou  wilt  encounter 
in  the  most  honorable  employments,  God  has 
sent  thee  a damned  soul  to  tell  thee  that  pos- 
sessing a fortune  on  earth  thou  wilt  perchance 
render  thyself  the  companion  of  his  sufferings 
in  hell.  Dream  no  longer  of  talcing  the 
Doctor’s  degree,  but  betake  thyself  to  a study 
which  will  teach  thee  only  the  things  of  salva- 
tion.” He  conceived  the  resolution  of  conse- 
crating himself  to  God,  and  made  a vow  of  per- 
petual chastity  ; and  to  enable  him  to  keep  it 
he  went  to  a locksmith  and  bought  an  iron 
chain,  which  he  fastened  round  his  waist.  He 
wore  it  fifty  years,  although  it  worked  its  way 
into  his  flesh  ^nd  caused  hirn  excessive  pain. 


Blessed  Peter  Gereniia.  271 

He  became  aware  of  a religious  vocation,  and 
earnestly  prayed  for  guidance  in  making  his 
choice.  In  His  wisdom  God  led  him  to 
choose  the  Dominican  order.  He  lost  no  time 
in  presenting  himself  to  the  Prior  of  Bologna, 
and  humbly  asked  to  be  received.  The  Prior, 
who  knew  his  piety  and  eminent  qualifications, 
in  due  time  gave  him  the  habit,  and  he  began 
his  novitiate.  He  was  in  his  nineteenth  year. 
His  vocation  was  destined  to  meet  with  a 
severe  test.  His  father  had  hoped  much  from 
his  son’s  talents,  and  was  inconsolable  when 
he  heard  of  his  entrance  into  religion.  He 
went  to  Bologna  to  persuade  him  to  ,return 
home.  When  he  arrived  at  the  Dominican 
monastery  he  demanded  to  see  his  son.  The 
Prior  willingly  gave  permission,  but  the  fervent 
novice  refused  to  see  his  father,  fearing  that 
the  voice  of  nature  would  overcome  his  resolu- 
tion and  tempt  him  to  abandon  his  vocation. 
He  begged  the  novice  master  to  excuse  him, 
beg  his  father’s  blessing  for  him,  and  assure 
him  that  he  was  quite  happy  and  fully  re- 
solved, by  the  grace  of  God,  to  persevere  in 
the  life  he  had  chosen.  His  father  was  very 
angry,  and  bitterly  accused  him  of  ingratitude. 


2J2  Blessed  Peter  Gerenim. 

and  threatened  that  if  the  Fathers  did  not  at 
once  give  him  up  he  would  obtain  vengeance. 
The  novice  master  recommended  him  to  wait  a 
few  days,  promising  that  he  should  see  his  son. 
Grace  began  to  work  in  his  father’s  heart. 
“ If  God,”  he  said  to  himself,  “asks  from  me 
the  sacrifice  of  my  son,  He  is  the  master,  my 
dear  son  belongs  more  to  Him  than  to  me. 
May  it  never  happen  me  to  oppose  the  om- 
nipotent God.  The  only  grace  I ask  is  to  be 
allowed  to  embrace  him.  I love  him  more  than 
I love  myself.”  And  when  he  saw  his  son  he 
exhorted  him  to  presevere  in  his  holy  vocation. 

Thus  freed  from  the  temptation  his  father’s 
love  had  cast  in  his  way,  Peter  applied  him- 
self to  acquire  religious  perfection.  He  made 
his  profession  in  due  time,  and  then  began  his 
ecclesiastical  studies,  and  knowing  well  that  all 
true  knowledge  comes  from  the  Father  of  light 
He  studied  chiefly  in  the  book  of  the  cross, 
and  made  as  much  progress  in  his  studies  by 
prayer  as  by  mental  application.  After  hav- 
ing been  ordained  priest  he  began  to  preach. 
Inflamed  with  love  for  God,  and  consumed  by 
a burning  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls  he 
was  a true  Christian  preacher.  Spiritual 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia,  273 

unction  gave  a wonderful  force  to  his  words, 
and  his  sermons  touched  the  hearts  and  con- 
sciences of  his  hearers.  He  preached  in  all 
parts  of  Italy,  and  the  number  of  solid  and 
lasting;  conversions  he  worked  could  not  be 
estimated.  He  became  so  famous  as  a 
preacher  that  when  Saint  Vincent  Ferrer 
passed  through  Bologna  in  1416,  he  desired  to 
see  him.  When  they  met  Saint  Vincent  lov- 
ingly embraced  him,  and  exhorted  him  to  con- 
tinue preaching,  to  which  it  was  evident  God 
had  especially  called  him. 

In  1427  he  was  deputed  by  Father  Barthol- 
omew Texier,  Master  General  of  the  order,  to 
make  a visitation  of  the  Italian  Dominican 
monasteries,  in  which  he  was  completely  suc- 
cessful, for  he  restored  strict  discipline  in 
every  one  he  visited.  He  was  summoned  by 
Pope  Eugeniiis  IV.  to  take  part  in  the  General 
Council  of  Florence.  As  soon  as  his  depar- 
ture became  known  in  Palermo,  where  he  was 
stationed  at  the  time,  the  City  Senate  assem- 
bled and  wrote  a letter  to  the  king  of  Sicily, 
begging  him  to  ask  the  Pope  and  the  Domini- 
can General  to  allow  him  to  remain  in  Palermo. 
The  king  authorized  the  Senate  to  hinder  his 


274  Blessed  Peter  Geremia. 

departure,  but  the  Pope  would  not  consent 
that  his  talents  should  be  lost  to  the  church, 
and  insisted  that  he  should  be  present  at  the 
council.  He  attracted  much  attention  during 
the  council  by  his  zeal  and  learning,  and  espe- 
cially by  his  answers  to  the  objections  against 
catholic  doctrine  made  by  the  Greeks.  The 
Pope  vainly  attempted  to  induce  him  to 
accept  high  ecclesiastical  honors,  so  great  was 
his  esteem  for  him. 

After  the  council  he  returned  to  Palermo, 
where  he  spent  several  years  in  the  strictest 
observance  and  in  apostolic  labors.  He  gave 
several  hours  a day  to  prayer,  and  his  pen- 
ances were  so  severe  that  they  deserve  to  be 
compared  with  those  of  the  ancient  saints  of 
the  desert.  His  sermons  produced  so  much 
effect  that  the  island  of  Sicily  was  completely 
changed.  In  Palermo  the  churches  were  too 
few  and  too  small  to  contain  the  immense 
crowds  which  flocked  to  them  at  every  ser- 
vice, and  when  he  himself  preached  it  became 
necessary  to  preach  in  the  open  air.  And 
what  happened  to  many  saints  happened  to 
him.  God  caused  his  voice  to  reach  a distance 
beyond  the  power  of  man.  Those  as  much  as 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia, 


275 


a mile  distant  could  hear  him  distinctly.  One 
day  he  was  so  exhausted  that  he  could  only 
speak  in  a whisper,  and  was  advised  by  the 
Fathers  not  to  attempt  to  preach.  Have 
confidence  in  God/’  he  said,  “ the  Lord  will 
give  words  to  those  who  preach  the  Gospel.” 
His  trust  was  not  misplaced,  and  his  faith  not 
in  vain.  His  voice  was  at  once  restored  to 
him,  and  he  could  be  distinctly  heard  by  all. 
Another  time,  as  he  was  preaching  in  the 
square  in  front  of  the  Cathedral  of  Palermo,  a 
rich  man,  on  his  way  to  commit  a murder, 
passed  at  a great  distance  from  where  he  was 
preaching,  yet  he  heard  these  words  of  the  ser- 
mon, “ Blind  sinner,  reflect  on  what  you  are 
about  to  do  I Be  not  overcome  by  passion, 
flee  from  the  sin  your  heart  leads  you  to  com- 
mit.” Thinking  that  the  woids  were  espe- 
cially addressed  to  him  he  was  enraged  against 
the  holy  preacher.  But  reflecting  that  he 
could  not  have  heard  except  by  a miracle,  he 
repented  of  his  evil  intention,  and  when  the 
sermon  was  over  went  to  seek  the  holy  Father, 
to  whom  he  declared  that  he  now  pardoned 
his  enemy  from  his  heart  the  injuiy  he  had 
done  him. 


2/6 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia. 


Having  gone  to  preach  on  the  Feast  of  the 
Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  in  a 
chapel  on  the  summit  of  a mountain,  he  began 
to  pray  before  going  into  the  pulpit.  During 
prayer  he  saw  the  heavens  opened,  and  a num- 
ber of  angels  descend  to  a cave  close  by. 
They  quickly  returned  to  heaven,  carrying 
with  them  several  souls.  God  revealed  to  him 
that  they  were  the  souls  of  some  young  girls, 
who  having  left  their  homes  to  hear  the  ser- 
mon were  captured  by  brigands,  who  not 
being  able  to  persuade  them  to  consent  to  sin, 
had  brutally  murdered  them,  hiding  their  bod- 
ies in  the  cave.  Thus  these  humble  maidens 
had  merited  the  double  crown  of  virginity  and 
martyrdom.  Blessed  Peter  preached  with  a 
power  unusual  even  to  him,  and  narrated  his 
vision.  After  the  sermon  he  led  the  people  in* 
procession  to  the  cave,  where  the  bodies  of 
the  virgin  martyrs  were  found.  They  were 
carried  to  the  chapel  on  the  mountain,  and 
buried  with  all  the  solemnity  so  holy  a death 
deserved. 

Remaining  in  the  choir  one  night  after  ma- 
tins to  pray,  he  saw  a soul,  pale,  deformed, 
and  so  feeble  that  it  could  scarcely  rise  from 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia,  277 

its  vault.  **  Peter,”  it  said  to  him,  I am  the 
Father  who  died  ten  days  ago.  I am  now  in 
purgatory,  where  I am  expiating  the  faults  of 
my  life.  I am  condemned  to  remain  there  a 
long  time.  But  God,  whose  mercies  are  infi- 
nite, will  remit  me  the  rest  of  the  pain  I ought 
to  suffer  if  you  will  but  offer  the  Holy  Sacri- 
fice of  the  Mass  for  me.  Dear  Father,  I con- 
jure you  have  pity  on  me.”  Blessed  Peter 
promised  to  say  Mass  as  soon  as  it  was  day- 
light, upon  which  the  soul  immediately  van- 
ished. He  said  Mass  most  fervently  at  day- 
break, and  prayed  during  the  day  for  that  soul. 
The  following  night  it  appeared  again,  but  oh ! 
how  different  was  its  state.  Clothed  in  pure 
light,  filled  with  joy,  it  thanked  him  for  his 
charity,  and  assured  him  that  he  also  would 
enjoy  the  glory  of  Paradise. 

During  the  time  when  Blessed  Peter  was 
Prior  of  the  Monastery  of  Saint  Zita,  in  Pa- 
lermo, the  Father-procurator  went  to  him  one 
day  and  told  him  that  there  was  no  food  in 
the  larder.  The  holy  Prior  strapped  a wallet 
on  his  shoulders,  and  walked  to  the  seashore, 
where  he  took  a small  boat  and  sailed  out  to 
sea  where  many  fishermen  were  fishing  for  tun- 


278 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia, 


nies.  They  had  been  very  successful  that 
morning,  and  were  in  the  best  of  spirits.  He 
asked  them  to  give  him  some  of  the  fishes 
they  had  caught,  but  was  rudely  refused.  He 
bore  this  affront  meekly,  and  getting  into  the 
little  boat  again  in  which  he  had  sailed  out  he 
raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  lovingly  com- 
plained to  God,  O my  God,”  he  said,  “ I have 
done  all  I can  to  provide  for  the  necessities  of 
my  brothers,  your  faithful  servants ; it  now 
belongs  to  you  to  assist  them.”  When  he  had 
sailed  about  a mile  towards  the  shore  the  tun- 
nies caught  by  the  fishermen  broke  their  nets, 
and  swam  in  a shoal  after  the  holy  Father. 
Astonished  at  what  they  saw  the  fishermen 
understood  that  God  wished  to  punish  them 
for  their  want  of  charity.  They  followed  him, 
begged  him  to  forgive  them,  and  entreated 
him  to  return  and  bless  their  nets.  Blessed 
Peter  did  so,  and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross 
over  the  shoal  of  fishes,  which  immediately 
swam  back  and  re-entered  the  nets  they  had 
left.  The  fisherman  took  more  than  a thou- 
sand that  morning,  and  sent  as  many  to  the 
monastery  as  the  Fathers  needed. 

He  worked  a much  more  wonderful  miracle 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia, 


279 


by  changing  the  heart  of  an  impenitent  sinner, 
and  leading  him  back  to  God  by  penance. 
There  was  a man  in  Palermo,  who  lived  so 
wicked  a life,  that  all  were  scandalized. 
Blessed  Peter  conceived  in  his  heart  a great 
pity  for  him,  and  tried  to  persuade  him  to 
amend  his  life  and  to  do  penance  for  his  sins. 
In  words,  inspired  by  true  charity,  he  warned 
him  of  the  danger  of  eternal  loss,  reminded 
him  of  the  scandal  he  was  giving,  described  to 
him  the  certainty  and  severity  of  God's  judg- 
ment, and  told  him  that  if  he  did  not  quickly 
repent  God  would  punish  him  as  he  deserved. 
But  instead  of  receiving  this  advice  in  the 
spirit  in  which  it  was  given  the  wretched  man 
resented  it,  and  in  his  anger  dared  to  strike 
him.  God,  who  always  defends  those  who 
labor  for  Him,  withered  up  the  hand  and  arm 
which  had  inflicted  the  blow.  The  sinner  fell 
on  his  knees  and  begged  the  saint  to  obtain 
for  him  the  use  of  his  arm  again,  promising  to 
abandon  his  sins,  and  to  do  penance  for  his 
scandalous  life.  He  was  instantaneously  cured, 
when  Blessed  Peter  prayed  for  him  as  he  de- 
sired. He  kept  his  word  and  gave  great  edifica- 
tion for  the  rest  of  his  life  by  his  genuine  piety. 


28o 


Blessed  Peter  Gereniia. 


It  was  Blessed  Peter  s custom  to  invite  all  the 
poor  of  the  city  to  a feast  on  Saint  Zita’s  day. 
He  served  them  himself  at  the  monastery  door, 
and  when,  as  not  unfrequently  happened,  food 
became  scarce  God  miraculously  increased  the 
store.  These,  and  many  other  no  less  wonder- 
ful miracles,  made  Blessed  Peter  very  famous, 
and  numbers  of  young  men  were  attracted  to 
the  order  by  his  holiness  and  took  the  habit. 

When  his  office  of  Prior  of  Saint  Zita  in 
Palermo  expired  he  was  appointed  novice 
master,  an  office  which  required  great  prudence, 
tact,  and  charity,  joined  to  the  rigorous  observ- 
ance of  the  rule.  He  was  equal  to  all  required 
of  him,  and  remained  novice  master  until 
1444,  when  he  petitioned  the  Provincial  Chapter 
to  free  him  from  so  grave  a responsibility,  that 
he  might  devote  himself  again  to  preaching. 
His  petition  was  granted,  and  he  went  to  the 
monastery  of  Catania,  where  he  worked  much 
good  by  his  sermons.  While  there  an  eruption 
of  Mount  Etna  took  place,  and  the  town  and 
its  inhabitants  were  threatened  with  utter  de- 
struction. Blessed  Peter,  who  confided  in  the 
intercession  of  the  holy  martyr  Saint  Agatha, 
took  the  veil  which  covered  her  tomb  and  pre- 


Blessed  Pete7'  Gerernia. 


281 


sented  it  to  the  flames,  praying  God  to  have  pit}’ 
on  his  people.  And  as  he  prayed  the  flames 
stopped,  and  the  eruption  ceased.  Every  one 
attributed  this  divine  favor  as  much  to  Blessed 
Peter’s  prayers  as  to  Saint  Agatha’s  merits. 

Several  years  before  his  death  the  sea  be- 
came so  rough  that  no  ships  could  come  into 
harbor  and  a famine  set  in  among  the  poor. 
They  had  recourse  to  Blessed  Peter  in  their 
misery.  “ Banish  all  sadness  he  said  to  the 
Magistrates, who  went  to  ask  his  prayers;  “before 
the  sun  sets  Providence  will  send  you  wheat  in 
abundance.”  They  retired  full  of  hope,  and 
Blessed  Peter  began  to  pray  to  God  to  take 
pity  on  His  people.  As  soon  as  he  had  finished 
his  prayer  he  turned  towards  the  sea,  and  there 
he  saw  the  answer  to  his  prayers — a ship  on  the 
horizon.  But  the  winds  were  so  strong  that 
every  one  thought  the  ship  would  be  dashed  to 
pieces  on  the  rocks.  As  soon  as  Father  Peter 
began  to  pray  again,  the  ship  sailed  safely  into 
port,  contrary  to  all  hope,  and  the  famine  was 
at  an  end. 

He  raised  the  dead  to  life,  and  was  often 
seen  surrounded  by  heavenly  light.  But  in 
proportion  as  God  endowed  him  with  spirit- 


282 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia, 


ual  gifts  he  tamed  his  body  by  fasting  and 
penance.  Subject  to  many  bodily  infirmities 
he  bore  them  with  exemplary  patience,  and 
was  never  sad  or  downcast,  except  when  God 
deprived  him  of  sufferings  for  a time.  He 
regarded  sickness  and  pain  as  God’s  favors, 
and  when  they  were  not  bestowed  on  him  he 
thought  he  was  in  disgrace  ; and  once,  when 
he  was  asked  why  he  was  so  sad,  although  he 
was  not  suffering,  he  said:  “ Because  it  seems 
that  God  has  withdrawn  his  hand  from  me.” 

His  great  age, — he  was  now  nearly  seven- 
ty,— and  the  wear  and  tear  of  his  constant 
preaching  made  it  necessary  to  send  him  back 
to  Sicily,  his  native  country.  When  he  bade  the 
people  farewell  from  the  pulpit  all  were  in  tears, 
and  the  crowd  that  gathered  round  the  monas- 
tery doors  to  beg  his  blessing  for  the  last  time, 
was  so  great  that  he  was  obliged  to  put  off  his 
departure  for  three  days.  The  people  set 
guards  at  the  door  to  hinder  him  from  going 
away,  until  he  told  them  it  was  God’s  will  and 
his  superior’s  commands,  and  that  he  was  bound 
to  obey.  And  when  at  length  he  set  off  many 
accompanied  him  along  way  on  his  journey. 
They  never  saw  him  again,  for  as  soon  as  he 


Blessed  Peter  Gerernia, 


283 


got  to  Palermo  he  fell  sick,  and  the  day  of  his 
death  was  revealed  to  him.  He  said  holy 
Mass  as  often  as  he  was  able.  Vesting  one 
morning  in  the  sacristy,  he  told  one  of  the 
fathers  that  it  was  the  last  Mass  he  would  say. 
As  soon  as  his  Mass  was  over  he  was  obliged 
to  return  to  bed.  During  his  sickness  he  often 
repeated  the  words  of  Saint  Angustine.  “ Here 
burn,  cut  here,  do  not  spare  me,  so  that  Thou, 
O Lord,  mayest  spare  me  in  eternity.” 

On  the  day  of  his  passage  from  this  world 
he  asked  that  the  last  sacrament  should  be  ad- 
ministered to  him.  Before  receiving  the  holy 
viaticum  he  called  all  the  fathers  round  his 
bed,  and  earnestly  exhorted  them  to  persevere 
in  the  love  and  service  of  God  ; not  to  spare 
themselves,  to  practice  mortification,  cultivate 
brotherly  love  and  the  spirit  of  strict  observ- 
ance of  the  Dominical  rule  and  constitutions. 
Seeing  them  all  in  tears  he  endeavored  to  con- 
sole them,  and  promised  to  visit  them  in  spirit 
when  by  the  mercy  of  God  he  should  be  enjoy- 
ing the  bliss  of  heaven.  And  when,  some  time 
later,  a great  increase  of  fervour  was  mani- 
fested in  the  community,  it  was  universally 
attributed  to  his  prayers.  He  died  March  3d, 


284  Blessed  Peter  Gere^ttia* 

1452,  In  his  seventy-second  year.  When  the 
Fathers  were  washing  his  body  they  saw  a sin- 
gular swelling  round  his  loins,  and  made  an  in- 
cision to  see  what  was  its  cause.  They  found 
the  iron  chain  which  he  had  put  on  immediately 
after  his  conversion,  fifty  years  before,  on  the 
night,  when  as  we  have  narrated,  a damned 
soul  appeared  to  him  to  warn  him  of  the  dan- 
ger of  eternal  loss.  By  continual  penance  he 
had  preserved  his  virginity  intact.  How 
differently  do  we  ! we  desire  to  be  holy  it  is 
true,  but  we  shrink  from  penance,  and  our 
good  resolutions  and  holy  desires  are  of 
but  short  duration.  We  easily  give  way  to 
temptation  because  we  do  not  imitate  the 
saints  by  constant  prayer  and  a life  of 
penance. 

His  holy  body  was  laid  on  a bier,  and  placed 
in  the  church,  where  it  was  venerated  by  all. 
After  his  burial,  miracles  took  place  at  his 
tomb  and  it  was  not  many  days  before  pilgrims 
came  to  pray  there.  Only  a month  had  passed 
when  the  Fathers  were  obliged,  in  answer  to 
the  people’s  request,  to  open  his  tomb.  His 
body  was  perfectly  incorrupt.  The  iron  chain 
was  taken  from  it,  and  kept  as  a sacred  relic, 


Blessed  Peter  Gereniia,  285 

and  miracles  were  obtained  by  many  who 
touched  it. 

Blessed  Peter  was  beatified  in  1784  by  Pope 
Pius  VI.  He  left  behind  him  several  literal*}- 
works : a volume  of  sermons,  a treatise  on  the 
passion  of  Jesus  Christ,  treatises  on  faith,  on 
the  creed,  and  on  the  Lord’s  prayer,  all  of 
which  have  several  times  been  printed.  Five 
volumes  in  manuscript  are  also  preserved  in 
the  church  of  Saint  Dominic  in  Palermo,  and 
two  others  in  the  archives  of  Saint  Dominic’s 
Monastery  in  Bologna,  comprising  treatises  on 
Moral  Theology  and  Canon  Law. 

Prayer. 

Ant.  O Lord  our  God,  how  marvellous  is 
Thy  name  through  all  the  earth  ! For  Thou 
hast  crowned  Thy  saint  with  glory  and  honor, 
and  hast  set  him  over  the  works  of  Thy  hands. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O Blessed  Peter. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray. 

O God,  who  by  the  prayers  and  exhorta- 
tions of  Blessed  Peter,  Thy  confessor,  didst 


286 


Blessed  Peter  Geremia. 


mercifully  cause  many  wanderers  to  return  to 
the  path  of  righteousness,  enlarge  our  hearts, 
we  beseech  Thee,  through  his  holy  intercession, 
that  we  may  ever  run  in  the  way  of  Thy  com- 
mandments, through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


t 


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